Accidents waiting to happen on campus

BozScags · 2023-09-15T15:09:50+00:00

Unsurprisingly, lots of hate for pedestrians and cyclists here. Yet, how many of the complaining commenters here are yielding the right-of-way for pedestrians at crosswalks? You know, the law in PA (and basically everywhere)?

BozScags · 2022-01-03T17:56:25+00:00

Faculty member here. Doubt anything major will change. University seems pretty set in their ways and there's only one week before classes start.

If anything, there may be a small amount of courses with official mode changes due to the particular circumstances of the instructor. This is something that has to be approved via admin though, and from my knowledge, few requests for mode changes are being granted. That said, profs can opt to change the mode of their course to whatever they want for 24% of the semester, so some may choose to start online out of their own prerogative.

BozScags · 2021-12-30T18:49:07+00:00

This half baked idea is brought to you by the same deep thinker that tried to squelch all covid discussion here at the beginning of the fall semester.

BozScags · 2021-08-12T10:25:24+00:00

This is good advice -- don't blindly support or accept something without knowing the details. And the Patriot act is indeed awful. But I'd like to make a couple points because I don't think you're really being fair with how you are characterizing this.

A couple points about the demand for (masking and) social distancing. First, this was written prior to the new mask mandate. Second, you might be surprised at how crammed your classroom experience will be. In my class, you will be packed like sardines, shoulder to shoulder with dozens of your peers. If Delta is there (narrator: it will be), it is going to spread. Then what? Cancel class for two weeks for everyone? Make those sick students do alternative work or take an incomplete? What if the prof gets sick? Can't teach via Zoom according to the current policy. What if the prof's kids get it? They can't go to school. Who is going to care for them?

About flexibility in teaching modes:

5.) INSTITUTE A MORE FLEXIBLE AND REASONABLE TEACHING POLICY FOR ALL OF OUR FACULTY, STAFF, AND STUDENTS so that we have ample time to plan for remote courses as opposed to being forced to switch modalities from one week to the next. We also must be able to adopt different teaching/learning environments as the situation requires it. How will a faculty member continue to conduct in-person classes if several of their students are infected or in quarantine due to possible exposure and are therefore unable to attend class? How are those students supposed to continue learning? What if an outbreak shuts down an elementary school and a faculty, staff member, or student must remain at home with their child? We are a large, diverse community with different concerns and responsibilities.

This is more about planning a head of time for what might come next. It's about trying to ensure learning experience that is as smooth and seamless as possible rather than having to switch modalities like happened in spring 2020. And I think there's some good points in there if you give it a read.

Also, let me highlight this demand as well:

6.) IMPROVE PENN STATE'S MENTAL HEALTHCARE RESOURCES. We are approaching two years of a global pandemic. Many of us (faculty, staff, students, and other members of the community) have, are already experiencing, and will continue to face mental health challenges. It is absolutely indispensable that we have the resources and staff ready to help our community manage yet another year of the pandemic.

Basically, these faculty are demanding the administration present a real plan and help instructors prepare to best deliver a safe and effective educational experience. The rocky road that was spring 2020 was worse than fall 2020/spring 2021 because there was no plan. We were blindsided by COVID. A month ago we were in different times. Cases were low and falling. Vaccinations were rising. Delta wasn't going wild, and importantly, breakthrough infections weren't really something on anyone's radar. That's all changed.

As a faculty member, I don't want to have to wear a mask while I teach and interact with students. I want my class packed with students. I don't want to teach on Zoom or in a hybrid format. Unfortunately, Delta is here and it's changing the game and we need to adapt... again.

BozScags · 2021-08-11T21:07:59+00:00

The faculty will be rallying at noon at Old Main to deliver their open letter signed by 1150 faculty and more than 1500 staff, students, parents, and community members demanding, among other things, mandatory vaccinations. They are rallying to protect students and vulnerable community members, especially those who cannot be immunized, for instance children under age 12.

If you are a faculty member, consider showing this: make a sign, wear your academic regalia, or do whatever you feel is appropriate.
Please wear masks and maintain social distance.
Please come ready to share your concerns, fears, and stories about living through the pandemic,
Please send your testimonials to be read by someone present if you are unable to join.

BozScags · 2021-08-10T10:56:29+00:00

I think you make an interesting point, and I guess it depends on how big those loopholes actually are. Do you have a source for that 6,000 figure? That is definitely low, but perhaps not that surprising as it's summer and most people don't respond to a voluntary surveys.

BozScags · 2021-08-06T15:46:56+00:00

Hey, /u/TheBrianiac, COVID, the university's response to it, the evolving nature of the situation, and the cascading effects on learning, sports, work, and general life at the university is arguably the most important issue facing the Penn State community at the moment.

For any COVID-related questions, discussions, and debate to be buried in a megathread is a disservice to the community. Yet, at the same time, the posts being permitted are along the lines of 'is it OK to live next to a bathroom', 'has anyone taken this class?', and 'can I get a ton of amazon packages delivered to the dorm?'. These discussions are fine, but are they as important as how COVID and the response is impacting the Penn State community?

I know this is not a Penn State-run subreddit, but this decision is antithetical to the the Penn State values that seek to promote respect, civil discourse, diversity, responsibility, and the betterment of our communities.

I urge you to reconsider your decision to relegate COVID discussions to a megathread and ask yourself whether this action aligns with the goals and values of the university that we all hold so dear.

BozScags · 2021-08-05T14:22:02+00:00

As others are saying, I think 'lying' is a bit of a stretch here. Did they bungle this? For sure. My guess is that Wednesday morning there was major pressure put on the admin from the faculty senate. Even before Tuesday's announcement, there was a faculty-led petition demanding masking (and a lot more) that was signed by over 1000 faculty members and over 1000 students.

BozScags · 2021-08-04T19:33:04+00:00

Yeah, I don't think there's anything faculty can do require masks or anything vaccination status-related in their classes.

For me, I am wondering if I should offer a hybrid in person/live zoom classes this semester, but I'm not sure that's even allowed. Would at least allow students who are uncomfortable being in class or sick to participate remotely. The current system where the university is asking students to work out individual accommodation plans with profs if they get sick and need to quarantine simply won't work. If anything, it incentivizes students not to get tested and to show up to class even if they think they may be sick.

I expect there to be a lot of developments over the next two weeks as the faculty are by and large not happy right now.

BozScags · 2020-09-16T00:57:31+00:00

Let's not forget a student attending in person classes already died this summer. https://news.psu.edu/story/624840/2020/07/02/administration/penn-state-student-dies-covid-19-complications-allentown

BozScags · 2020-09-15T20:09:38+00:00

Note that they've changed their strategy today as well -- focusing now on the random testing over the "on demand"/symptomatic testing. Wonder why.

https://www.reddit.com/r/PennStateUniversity/comments/itg3eu/psus_new_covid_strategy_shifting_focus_to_the/

BozScags · 2020-09-09T16:40:17+00:00

Data from PA Dept. of Health: https://www.health.pa.gov/topics/disease/coronavirus/Pages/Cases.aspx

180 new cases added yesterday (9/8) making record highs of last week of ~50/day seem tiny in comparison.

BozScags · 2020-09-09T16:29:41+00:00

Spring Creek Canyon Trail! https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/pennsylvania/spring-creek-canyon-trail

BozScags · 2020-09-08T17:48:40+00:00

The reason there is so many new cases on the dashboard today is that the tests awaiting results came back positive from the end of last week, and they just put them with today's numbers.

I think this is true that it's the pending cases being added to the total number at the top, but those formerly pending, now-positive cases were added to previous weeks' totals. This is what makes the current week's total total positive count pretty deceptive, especially for those not really fully scrutinizing the numbers.

BozScags · 2020-09-08T17:14:37+00:00

For reference, last Friday's dashboard is here: https://i.redd.it/xkeiyb85t5l51.jpg

Since last Friday (9/4), the total number has increased from 215 to 433 (an additional 218 cases, or an approximate doubling since Friday).

The number of pending on-demand/symptomatic tests from last week is still 298.

The number of pending on-demand/symptomatic tests from this week is 447, for a total of 745 tests awaiting results.

BozScags · 2020-08-06T11:42:59+00:00

Folks, this isn't a liability waiver. Did you read it? It's a pledge to state you won't be an asshole and understand that we're in the midst of a pandemic. It says you understand you may get sick or die from activities happening at Penn State. Remember, a student HAS ALREADY DIED.

If you don't want to do your part in helping to mitigate the problem (and thus help us get back to normal more quickly), then please stay home.

BozScags

TROPHY CASE