State Sen. Sara Gelser (D-Corvallis) appealed to the Oregon State University’s (OSU) Board of Trustees, imploring OSU to close its dorms and keep students away from campus this fall. OSU’s latest plans are to keep most classes remote at its main campus in Corvallis. However, they are planning to keep residence halls, the library, and recreation centers open for students who wish to return.
KLCC reports that Gelser said, “Once they have arrived, it’s too late to undo it. The mitigation measures don’t matter in terms of that initial introduction of the virus into the community.”
Gelser also believes the university should closely monitor off-campus students and regulate large gatherings that may violate social distancing guidelines.
The trustees have not changed plans for the fall term, but will continue to re-evaluate every month. All of this is facing off against the financial update from new president F. King Alexander revealing approximately $270 million in budget shortfall.
By Hannah Ramsey
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