Unconscionable
University of Pittsburgh PolicyBy Carlino Giampolo
August 23, 2020
Wanda Wilson
Oakland and Planning Development CorporationWanda
A recent University of Pittsburgh policy communication from Vice Chancellor Paul Supowitz stated in part: "Students are expected to avoid gathering in large groups or hosting gatherings or parties greater than 25 persons while the university is in an elevated risk posture."
This policy is outrageous. Parties of up to 25 students should never be endorsed by the chancellor and his administrators during any period.
To advocate such a policy in the midst of a pandemic within our small community is unconscionable. The communication also did not mention a requirement that when such a party is held, the host must take the names and phone numbers of all present. If a student at a party has the coronavirus, how could contact tracers and investigators follow up with all of the students at the party who were exposed?
This university policy implies that when the pandemic has subsided or ended, and the university is no longer in an "elevated risk posture," the university will support parties in our neighborhood greater than 25 students.
Our community is losing confidence in the administrators' ability to safeguard all of us during a pandemic and beyond. This is one more reason why the chancellor must resign.
The University Board of Trustees members impact our lives immensely with their decisions. This letter would have been forwarded to them, except the chancellor and his administrators refuse to provide our community with university email addresses for these members. We are unable to communicate our concerns directly to them at any time.
We cannot expect support from Mayor William Peduto, Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald, Councilman Bruce Kraus, and members of the city council, who are all staunch supporters of the chancellor. Despite the chancellor's actions to allow on-campus classes, which could be considered a betrayal to them, these political leaders must now find ways to contain the pandemic as it spreads beyond Oakland throughout the city and county.
OPDC has a fiduciary duty to our community. It is time for the leaders to raise their voices to protect all of us.
Note: Wanda Wilson has not replied.
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