This Presidential statement from Purdue is one of cruelest things I’ve read in the last 6 weeks: “Even a phenomenon as menacing as COVID-19 is one of the inevitable risks of life.” https://www.purdue.edu/president/messages/campus-community/2020/2004-fall-message.php

A brief summary: people might die, but Purdue has to reopen, because of our educational mission. 80% of our students are under 35 anyway. So those students probably won’t die. And we’ll do deep cleanings every day (maybe).

I’m worried other institutions will see this as a model. People at and around Purdue will die. But so will people at and around every other institution that enacts something similar, even if less extreme. This will likely happen whether or not Purdue retracts or changes course.

The Purdue President’s words also reenforce ageism and ableism in a way that will get (and is already getting) people killed. Even just the statement, much less the policy decision, gives other institutions permission to similarly flaunt their ageism and ableism with impunity.

I do think institutions should be making plans now for the Fall. Those plans need to be decisive but also flexible. Most importantly, though, they need to be designed to support and protect every member of a school community, especially the most vulnerable.