DURHAM, N.H. — Boston, and really all of New England, is a magnet for college students, attracting them from all over the world.
What’s usually a big plus for the region is becoming a cause for concern in the age of coronavirus.
Many people who live near these schools worry about the students could bring to campus this year.
“In Durham, particularly where we host the University of New Hampshire with all the students, the students are the wild card,” said Town Manager Todd Selig. “Frankly, we need them to behave. We need them to be responsible.”
Soon, Durham will be overrun with students, literally doubling its population.
Town Manager Todd Selig says he has been working closely with the University’s administration to develop a safe plan.
“All returning faculty and staff are being tested on a weekly basis by the university for COVID before any of the students return, and again they’re returning from all parts of the country, all parts of the world frankly, they will need to be tested for COVID too,” he explained.
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Signs are up downtown to reinforce a mandatory mask ordinance and other safety measures.
Selig says the local business community needs to students return successfully.
“I know of seven confirmed business closures downtown that are all attributed to COVID-19, you know, folks just couldn’t hang on,” he said. “The university wants the students back; Durham wants the students back; and the students want to be back.”
In Davis Square, near Tufts University, young people admit social distancing and avoiding large gatherings runs counter to college life.
One young man told Boston 25 News he thinks it will be difficult for students to keep in line. He added that he thinks it will be hard for the school to enforce those rules.
Another added that he thinks it’s going to be hard because there’s a huge social aspect to college.
Bringing back more than 5,000 students to the Tufts campus worries Somerville City Councilor Katjana Ballantyne, particularly because part of the school’s plan is to make dorms less crowded.
“What concerns me is the amount of capacity of on-campus housing, and they’re bringing all the students back, what does that mean then, that means that more students will be living off campus in our neighborhoods,” added Ballantyne.
She believes this will also weaken the schools testing plan which will create a threat to year-round residents.
“The number one resonating factor is safety in our neighborhoods,” Ballantyne said.
In a statement, Tufts University spokesperson Patrick Collins wrote, “Our comprehensive plan for re-opening, which is based on the work and guidance of medical and scientific experts, protects the health and safety of our students, faculty, staff and the residents of our host communities, and goes above and beyond all local, state, and federal guidelines for reopening higher education.”
Back in Durham, Selig believes the fall semester is ultimately in the hands of the students. “The message is don’t be an idiot. We know what we have to do to overcome this virus.”
While schools like Harvard and UMass won’t be housing very many students on campus, other local schools will.
Northeastern and Suffolk are both planning on renting large blocks of hotel rooms so they can place students in less dense settings.
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RESOURCES:
- Massachusetts Coronavirus Information
- Boston Coronavirus Information
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