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Administration responds to flu, leaves students disappointed |
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Thursday, 21 February 2008 |
Rumors circulating throughout campus in past weeks have led many students to believe a break in class is coming.
However, despite the fact that almost 1,700 students visited Student Health Services during the first week of February at Appalachian State University, no plans for a day off exist, Vice Chancellor for Student Development Cindy A. Wallace said.
The Appalachian feels that in the future the administration really needs to address student issues and needs with a day of rest.
Wallace said students should not expect classes to be cancelled due to high numbers of sick students.
Regardless of rumors that a certain number must be met, Wallace said no
such quota exists and that the campus is not even close to meeting any
overwhelming numbers.
“We have a bad outbreak here but not even close to being the worst we’ve had,” Wallace said.
Wallace said,
according to recorded visits to the on-campus infirmary, the university
seems to be past the peak of the flu, but “not out of the woods, yet.”
At the peak, Student Health Services fielded visits from 410 students Feb. 4.
However, Wallace said the university has taken additional measures to
combat the outbreak, including doubling the staff in health services
during a peak weekend.
The Appalachian applauds this extra effort by the university to provide needed support to students.
Students are also encouraged to stay home and out of class when experiencing flu symptoms.
“We are asking faculty to be understanding of students missing class… The best thing to do is stay home,” Wallace said.
While The Appalachian appreciates the administration’s verbal effort to
encourage faculty to be tolerant of absences due to illness, students
know all too well this is sometimes not enough.
Many students are unable to sacrifice a day or two of class to regain the level of health they need.
The Appalachian encourages the administration to be mindful of this,
and even consider canceling a day of classes for campus recovery in the
future.
Many students report waiting up to two hours to be seen in health services during the flu’s peak, despite an increase in staff.
While this might be unavoidable, the peace of mind provided by a day
off from class to visit a doctor likely would have benefited students
greatly.
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