CNN’s report of «Covid-19 parties» provides a striking example of why Cornell’s assumptions about controlling student misbehavior are misguided.
CNN is reporting that college students in Tuscaloosa, Alabama have been hosting “Covid-19 parties.” Living in off-campus housing near the University of Alabama, these young adults are gathering in groups that include individuals who are known to be infected with coronavirus. The goal, according to at least one Tuscaloosa city council member, is to become the first to be diagnosed with Covid-19 and win a cash prize.
While this sort of activity represents an extreme form of antisocial behavior among college students, it is an example of what university officials are going to be grappling with this coming semester as they reopen their residential campuses. College students are going to party, plain and simple. And many of these young adults are going to be flouting rules about social distancing along the way.
Ironically, Cornell University recently decided to reopen their campus at least in part because of a modeling study conducted by some of its researchers that focused specifically on student misbehavior. The findings included the assertion that in-person classes would result in less infections and hospitalizations than offering classes online.
