Liberty University welcomes students back to campus despite coronavirus outbreak
By Susan Svrluga and Laura Vozzella
March 24, 2020 at 5:12 p.m. EDT
Hundreds of students returned to Liberty University after spring break this week, even as colleges and universities across the country have sent students home to try to slow the spread of covid-19.
Earlier this month, Jerry Falwell Jr., the school’s president, said on Fox News that people were overreacting to the coronavirus pandemic and that the campus would open as usual this week. A few days later, after Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam banned gatherings of 100 people or more, Falwell reversed course and said most classes would be conducted online.
But the school’s decision to allow students to continue to live on campus if they choose sparked outrage from some, who worry that the novel coronavirus could spread rapidly with so many people in such close quarters.
Northam, concerned about Liberty University’s move, directed a member of his administration to call Falwell Tuesday, according to a Northam staffer who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe a private phone conversation. The staffer confirmed that the two spoke but did not indicate that the issue had been resolved.
“All universities and colleges have a responsibility to protect public health, to keep their students safe, keep their communities safe,” the staff member said. “And that means following strict adherence to the governor’s executive order. And Liberty University’s no exception to that.”
Some colleges with international students or even homeless students don’t have the option of letting them leave campus, the staffer said. But the number of such students is relatively small, so social distancing can be maintained.
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Falwell said between 1,000 and 2,000 students were on campus this week, including students renting apartments in town. “I’m guessing,” he said. “We really don’t know.”
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http://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2020/03/24/liberty-university-campus-coronavirus/
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