Vanessa Arredondo, 12-8-20, San Francisco Chronicle
UC Berkeley recently released travel guidelines for students planning to return home for the holidays, but some feel the university is sending mixed messages by urging students to follow new stay-at-home guidelines that restrict travel while it closes most on-campus housing during winter break.
A statewide surge of COVID-19 cases in the wake of the holiday season prompted officials to issue a stay-at-home-order in the Bay Area that will last at least through Jan. 4. Indoor and outdoor gatherings of any size with anyone from another household are prohibited, and residents are advised to only leave their households for essential tasks or to exercise. In an email to the campus community, UC Berkeley administration reminded students that public health officials strongly encouraged people to stay home during the holidays and avoid social gatherings with people whom they do not currently live with. The university also announced that all residence halls except for one will be closed during winter break — which begins Dec. 18. University officials said students who need a place to stay “on an emergency basis” should immediately contact student housing.
“It is GOOD to encourage students not to travel right now, but Berkeley needs to give students resources like guaranteed dorm access through winter break to make that possible,” graduate student Xander Lenc, who posted screenshots of the email, said Monday on Twitter.
A UC Berkeley spokeswoman said most students living in the residence halls have informed the university that they plan to leave campus during winter break. Students who decide to stay will be accommodated, she said. Some students may be moved into separate rooms or dorms to adhere with social distancing guidelines...
Full story at https://www.sfchronicle.com/education/article/UC-Berkeley-closes-residence-halls-for-winter-15786033.php
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