By Anna Hansen and Mandy Scheuer
September 17, 2020
COVID-19 cases on Edgewood’s campus have quadrupled, going from five on Sept. 15 to twenty-one on Sept. 17.
To combat the spread of the virus, Phil’s, one of two on-campus dining halls, has closed in-person dining, offering pick-up only.
“This spike is attributable to egregious violations of our protocols, and the state of Wisconsin protocols, during Labor Day weekend,” said Edgewood College President Andrew Manion in a Sept. 17 email. “There is no evidence that anyone has caught the virus in any public space or classroom on our campus.”
Manion did not reveal details of what happened over Labor Day but said that Edgewood administration is currently investigating a “small number” of cases of serious violations of Edgewood’s COVID-19 on-campus protocols.
“We are addressing those cases aggressively,” said Manion, “and the results of those processes may result in severe penalties up to and including expulsion.”
Manion also alluded to the possibility of shutting campus down for the remainder of the Fall semester. “If this trend continues, I will make the painful but necessary decision to complete the semester via fully remote classes, and residence halls and offices will close for the semester,” he said.
In a Sept. 10 email, Manion said though Edgewood is not performing its own tests, the college is acting in other ways to avoid the spread of COVID-19.
“We are focusing on symptom management,” said Manion. “The health officials that we’ve stayed in touch with since early summer recommend that course of action.”
Ed Taylor, Edgewood College director of strategic communications, added that the college is supporting students who seek testing. “We are directing students – all students, both on-campus and off-campus – to get tested as appropriate at the Public Health Madison Dane County site at the Alliant Energy Center, or at a local CVS,” said Taylor. “We provide students support which may include transportation to get tests.”
Manion said that Edgewood’s current protocol is backed by local public health experts. “We are relying on self-reporting and symptom management, and contact tracing, with the guidance of public health experts,” said Manion. “This plan is the result of work throughout the summer that was executed by our Fall 2020 task force and was informed by our Wisconsin Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (WAICU) colleagues, and Public Health Madison Dane County.”
Christy Vogt, health education coordinator at Public Health Madison Dane County (PHMDC), said that testing that is easily accessible to students is “a critical piece of a COVID-19 prevention strategy.” Vogt declined any further comment on Edgewood’s protocol.
Edgewood students are asked to self-monitor and get tested when necessary.
But Dane County Executive Joe Parisi recommends regular testing on campuses with congregate settings like residence halls. “My personal opinion is that regular testing would be helpful,” said Parisi on Sept. 12.
While acknowledging that “many students have been forthcoming,” Parisi said that just as many students would not opt to get tested. “If you look at a college like Edgewood that has a background of serving your community, the best thing you can do is get out ahead of this,” said Parisi. “You don’t do it for yourself, you do it for other people.”
Positive tests are reported through COVID forms managed by the Dean of Students’ office. Cases are also tracked online on the college’s COVID site ( https://www.edgewood.edu/covid-19), where community members can access information on Edgewood’s COVID task force as well as other resources.
Edgewood’s campus has allocated different areas for students to quarantine, should they choose to remain on campus. According to Manion, none of these areas have reached capacity thus far.
In that same Sept. 10 email, Manion said, “I am really impressed by the commitment of our students to our community and to one another as they comply with the protocols that have been established.”
“We are in the midst of a great deal of uncertainty here, so I encourage everyone to continue to wear your mask, keep six feet apart or more, and wash your hands often. And if you are experiencing symptoms, or feel as though you may have been exposed, reach out to the Dean of Students Office.”
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