Labor Day Weekend Reminder: Wear a mask. Keep your distance. Stay safe!

Dear Students:

We are about to complete the second week of classes of the Fall 2020 semester, and for that reason we want to thank you for helping us maintain a safe and healthy campus. Many doubted that we would sustain a residential campus even to this point in the semester. However, so far—unlike many other universities across the United States—because of you, we have proven those doubters wrong!

That said, we must remain vigilant. As we approach the Labor Day weekend, we implore you not to let your guard down and jeopardize the hard work and positive effort of the past few weeks.

As a reminder, the University has arranged a host of events and activities for the Labor Day weekend designed to provide you the opportunity to safely socialize, relax and have fun. These include a number of Orange After Dark events, such as Cosmic Bowling, Virtual Escape Room, Late Night Movie: The Hate U Give and Outdoor Laser Tag. There are also several outdoor events that allow you to explore everything Central New York has to offer, like hiking at Green Lakes State Park. Check out the full list of activities and events by visiting the University’s events calendar.

And of course, the best way you can keep yourself, those around you and our broader community healthy and safe is to remember and adhere to the following simple precautions:

1. Wear your mask or face covering, always!
2. Maintain 6 feet of distance.
3. Limit the size of social gatherings.
4. Wash your hands often.
5. Look out for one another.

Finally, we cannot stress strongly enough the importance of avoiding travel away from Central New York this weekend. The University’s public health experts continue to emphasize that one of the most significant threats we face as a campus community is the introduction of COVID-19 to our campus from outside the region. Please, do not travel to states or regions where there is a heightened risk of COVID-19 transmission.

Equally important is discouraging visitors—including family and friends—who live outside of Central New York from coming to campus. Before the start of the semester, we shared this message with parents and families, explaining that “we are safest when living in this protective bubble we’ve built and are working so hard to maintain. The bubble remains fragile; let’s work together to make sure it doesn’t burst.” Central New York continues to have among the lowest infection rates in the country. Welcoming individuals from out of town, particularly from areas with higher infection rates, could compromise our bubble and jeopardize our ability to remain operating as a residential campus.

We appreciate your dedication to keeping yourself and those around you safe. Keep up the great work!

Sincerely,
J. Michael Haynie
Vice Chancellor for Strategic Initiatives and Innovation

Robert D. Hradsky
Vice President for the Student Experience