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Should colleges and universities open in person for the Fall 2020 semester? Should colleges and universities open in person for the Fall 2020 semester?
Yes – Students should be allowed back on campus for in-person classes Yes – Students should be allowed back on campus for in-person classes
No – Students should do the semester online and not come back to campus No – Students should do the semester online and not come back to campus
Depends - On outside data Depends - On outside data
Students learn better in person Students learn better in person
Colleges depend on the room and board charge Colleges depend on the room and board charge
Innovation and science depends on schools Innovation and science depends on schools
Local and national economies depend on schools Local and national economies depend on schools
Some students depend on campus housing and facilities Some students depend on campus housing and facilities
Some students depend on the structure of in-person classes Some students depend on the structure of in-person classes
It's impossible to plan ahead in such uncertain times It's impossible to plan ahead in such uncertain times
Reopening college campuses is too dangerous Reopening college campuses is too dangerous
On campus and in-person classes will only lead to outbreaks On campus and in-person classes will only lead to outbreaks
Students will congregate and spread disease Students will congregate and spread disease
Whether universities should open depends on community transmission Whether universities should open depends on community transmission
Whether universities should open depends on testing capacity Whether universities should open depends on testing capacity
Whether universities should open depends on student locations Whether universities should open depends on student locations
Whether universities should open depends on staff health concerns Whether universities should open depends on staff health concerns
Whether universities should open depends on student health concerns Whether universities should open depends on student health concerns
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Should colleges and universities open in person for the Fall 2020 semester?
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No – Students should do the semester online and not come back to campus

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On campus and in-person classes will only lead to outbreaks

The social nature of college life and classroom experience will make it almost impossible to effectively prevent the spread of the virus
Laurence Steinberg Kim Reynolds
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The Argument

Residential, dorm-style housing and in-person classes pose a high risk of COVID-19 transmission and will likely result in many localised outbreaks across the country. Colleges and universities that are reopening in person have outlines extensive health and safety programs to prevent the spread of the virus, but their effectiveness has not yet been tested. Bill Gates recently called COVID-19 tests "a complete waste" because the result comes back too slow.[1] If someone has the virus and is tested for it can take days before they receive their results and go into quarantine, giving them ample time to spread the virus.[1] Few people believe that thousands of 18-22-year-olds will return to campus and comply with social distancing and other safety measures. Although students will be asked to sign behavioural contracts with the school[2], there is little way to effectively monitor all student activity; college campuses are naturally social spaces.

Counter arguments

Proponents

Premises

Rejecting the premises

References

  1. https://edition.cnn.com/2020/07/29/health/bill-gates-testing-trnd/index.html
  2. https://www.educationdive.com/news/can-colleges-enforce-rules-designed-to-prevent-coronavirus-spread/581303/
This page was last edited on Wednesday, 12 Aug 2020 at 23:41 UTC

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