National attention does not often pass over my local area, considering that I live in a small town in the middle of Georgia. However the last few weeks have helped change that math somewhat, culminating in the past two days of international news coverage due to the rise in local viral cases as relative to the population density. As even the most conservative estimates hold that ten percent of the student body of UGA is infected as of a week ago, and local social media is buzz with videos of secret parties and long lines downtown where no one is masked, the real numbers today are likely much higher.
It is this super-charged moment that is underscored by this event which happened today.
Mathematics professor Joe Fu lights a recent #UGA memo on fire. The printed email from provost Jack Hu reiterated the admin’s stance to faculty: don’t share a positive COVID case to students without approval.
“It’s bullshit,” Fu said. Story to come @redandblack pic.twitter.com/sn6k5Tv6CJ
— Henry Queen (@C_HenryQueen) September 11, 2020
Here are some helpful headlines to place this activist moment in context:
• CBS46: White House reports concern over UGA COVID-19 cases
• GPB: In Responding To Coronavirus, Some Georgia Colleges Don’t Make The Grade
• AP: COVID-19 infections leap again at University of Georgia
• Flagpole: UGA Reopening Led to Massive Spike in COVID-19 Cases
• WSB-TV: UGA reports over 1,400 new cases of COVID-19 on campus this week