WEBVTT Kind: captions Language: en 00:00:00.640 --> 00:00:05.200 It’s rare that I reach out to you through a video, but I felt that it’s the best way 00:00:05.200 --> 00:00:07.299 to have this important conversation. 00:00:07.299 --> 00:00:12.980 I’ve always tried to be transparent and honest with you in my communications, consistent 00:00:12.980 --> 00:00:19.000 with the respect I have for you as exceptionally accomplished young adults. 00:00:19.000 --> 00:00:21.920 This fall isn’t a normal semester. 00:00:21.920 --> 00:00:26.640 You know the challenges we face, here and elsewhere, in trying to contain the spread 00:00:26.640 --> 00:00:28.409 of COVID-19. 00:00:28.409 --> 00:00:34.710 The sacrifices required of each of us can seem daunting or even unfair at times. 00:00:34.710 --> 00:00:39.600 But the stakes are too high not to step up and do the right thing. 00:00:39.600 --> 00:00:45.080 You’ve seen the recent headlines of schools that sought to open for in-person, on campus 00:00:45.080 --> 00:00:50.780 education this fall, only to quickly reverse course when it became clear a material number 00:00:50.780 --> 00:00:57.190 of students were not complying with requirements and expectations around social distancing, 00:00:57.190 --> 00:01:00.390 mask-wearing and limits on the size of gatherings. 00:01:00.390 --> 00:01:04.489 Protection of public health drove these decisions, as it must. 00:01:04.489 --> 00:01:11.420 Our ACC peers UNC and NC State have now gone online, joining many other schools across 00:01:11.420 --> 00:01:12.850 the country. 00:01:12.850 --> 00:01:18.970 We have not, hoping to offer as many of you as possible an on-Grounds experience, even 00:01:18.970 --> 00:01:21.710 if different from a “normal” year. 00:01:21.710 --> 00:01:26.750 We know how much it means to you, given the finite amount of time each of you has to be 00:01:26.750 --> 00:01:28.640 a student at UVA. 00:01:28.640 --> 00:01:33.930 We want you to be here, if your own health and safety permit, to experience your first 00:01:33.930 --> 00:01:39.170 year of college, or your fourth and final year; in fact, every year. 00:01:39.170 --> 00:01:43.700 But I need every one of you to do your part to make that happen. 00:01:43.700 --> 00:01:48.729 I read a powerful message yesterday from the leadership of Vanderbilt to their students 00:01:48.729 --> 00:01:53.110 on this subject, and this in particular stood out: 00:01:53.110 --> 00:01:59.409 “One person’s decision to shrug off their responsibility for a night of fun can be the 00:01:59.409 --> 00:02:05.020 reason an entire class misses its senior year, or why a student, for whom Vanderbilt is the 00:02:05.020 --> 00:02:08.200 safest home they know, is forced to leave.” 00:02:08.200 --> 00:02:12.480 Well, that same thing holds true for us at UVA. 00:02:12.480 --> 00:02:17.459 In a pandemic, one person’s bad decision has a direct impact on the health and safety 00:02:17.459 --> 00:02:18.459 of others. 00:02:18.459 --> 00:02:21.069 That’s why this is so important. 00:02:21.069 --> 00:02:28.900 The University has made very clear what must occur for us to offer an on-Grounds experience. 00:02:28.900 --> 00:02:33.910 These things are non-negotiable and essential to keep everyone healthy and safe. 00:02:33.910 --> 00:02:39.620 They are as followed: One, there can be no gatherings in excess 00:02:39.620 --> 00:02:44.940 of 15 people, whether on-Grounds or off, this fall. 00:02:44.940 --> 00:02:49.650 Again, no more than 15 people – period. 00:02:49.650 --> 00:02:53.980 You can still gather in smaller groups with close friends, and those are often the most 00:02:53.980 --> 00:02:56.489 meaningful interactions anyway. 00:02:56.489 --> 00:03:04.180 But know that we are very firm on this number: no more than 15; on Grounds of off; inside 00:03:04.180 --> 00:03:06.000 or outside. 00:03:06.000 --> 00:03:13.099 Two, you must wear a face covering or mask over the mouth and nose anytime you are out 00:03:13.099 --> 00:03:18.379 of your residence, including in common spaces within your residence hall or other shared 00:03:18.379 --> 00:03:19.760 spaces. 00:03:19.760 --> 00:03:21.710 Wear your masks, on or off-Grounds. 00:03:21.710 --> 00:03:32.489 Three, you must maintain a distance of 6 feet at all times when in the company of others. 00:03:32.489 --> 00:03:39.120 This applies whether indoors or outdoors; in class or in a library; or just walking 00:03:39.120 --> 00:03:41.890 across Grounds or down the Corner. 00:03:41.890 --> 00:03:46.040 6 feet is the minimum, always. 00:03:46.040 --> 00:03:50.980 We must strictly enforce these directives if you are to have a chance at an on-Grounds 00:03:50.980 --> 00:03:52.829 experience this fall. 00:03:52.829 --> 00:03:58.659 They have been in place for many days now, and remain a firm expectation of all students 00:03:58.659 --> 00:04:01.460 going forward through the fall. 00:04:01.460 --> 00:04:05.209 Yet we have already begun to receive reports of significant non-compliance. 00:04:05.209 --> 00:04:11.819 So, here's another point where I need to be very clear and frank with you: Enforcement 00:04:11.819 --> 00:04:15.470 will include serious sanctions for noncompliance. 00:04:15.470 --> 00:04:20.640 You may have seen in the last 48 hours that several peer institutions have not hesitated 00:04:20.640 --> 00:04:26.340 to immediately suspend students who decided to place others at risk by gathering in large 00:04:26.340 --> 00:04:27.480 numbers. 00:04:27.480 --> 00:04:35.600 This includes our ACC peers Syracuse and Virginia Tech, who suspended 23 and 7 students, respectively, 00:04:35.600 --> 00:04:37.200 within the past few days. 00:04:37.200 --> 00:04:39.500 Purdue suspended 36. 00:04:39.500 --> 00:04:43.370 I need you to understand that we will do the same. 00:04:43.370 --> 00:04:49.050 A suspension for violating these required public health norms will be immediate, and 00:04:49.050 --> 00:04:54.860 for the full semester at a minimum, with no opportunity to continue your courses in-person 00:04:54.860 --> 00:04:56.480 or online. 00:04:56.480 --> 00:05:02.970 Let me repeat this critical point: the suspension will be immediate and will bar you from further 00:05:02.970 --> 00:05:11.500 participation in any University courses, activities or programs for the fall semester, at minimum. 00:05:11.500 --> 00:05:16.420 Your path to graduation will be delayed by the credits you won’t earn this fall. 00:05:16.420 --> 00:05:21.140 These are serious consequences, but we are in a serious public health crisis. 00:05:21.140 --> 00:05:27.120 It’s important to me that every student realizes the consequences of willful noncompliance; 00:05:27.120 --> 00:05:31.490 I don’t want anyone surprised if we are forced to take action. 00:05:31.490 --> 00:05:35.350 Again, I want no confusion on this critical point. 00:05:35.350 --> 00:05:40.440 I have great faith in you and in our ability to be a responsible community. 00:05:40.440 --> 00:05:46.210 I’ve seen remarkable things from students in my 14 years as your Dean; you are why I 00:05:46.210 --> 00:05:50.270 love what I do and the school where I do it. 00:05:50.270 --> 00:05:55.570 But I also know it doesn’t take many individuals behaving recklessly to place all of us at 00:05:55.570 --> 00:05:57.030 risk. 00:05:57.030 --> 00:06:01.940 If an individual or a group of individuals choose to ignore the requirements of small 00:06:01.940 --> 00:06:08.530 gatherings of 15 or less, mask-wearing and social distancing, we will take immediate 00:06:08.530 --> 00:06:13.600 disciplinary action, including referral to the University Judiciary Committee and, in 00:06:13.600 --> 00:06:18.970 the most serious cases, immediate suspension and a ban from University Grounds. 00:06:18.970 --> 00:06:24.190 The stakes are simply too high for us to act otherwise. 00:06:24.190 --> 00:06:29.840 Student organizations, whether CIOs, Club Sports, Fraternities or Sororities, are also 00:06:29.840 --> 00:06:35.220 subject to serious sanctions for organized, collective activity that violates these clear 00:06:35.220 --> 00:06:38.390 expectations and required norms. 00:06:38.390 --> 00:06:42.950 These can include immediate termination of a group’s organizational agreement and relationship 00:06:42.950 --> 00:06:47.300 with UVA, and all of the rights that flow from that agreement. 00:06:47.300 --> 00:06:53.210 We won’t be issuing a series of warnings or multiple strikes before we act – we need full 00:06:53.210 --> 00:06:58.000 compliance right out of the box. Right now and going forward. 00:06:58.000 --> 00:07:04.390 Again, there’s simply too much at stake for us not to take swift and firm action in 00:07:04.390 --> 00:07:06.340 response to violations. 00:07:06.340 --> 00:07:11.330 Let me close by saying you have been dealt a difficult set of circumstances being in 00:07:11.330 --> 00:07:15.750 college during a pandemic of a scope unseen in over a century. 00:07:15.750 --> 00:07:19.890 I understand the sadness and frustration this brings. 00:07:19.890 --> 00:07:26.970 But: I also know short-term sacrifice like you are being asked to make here – by complying 00:07:26.970 --> 00:07:33.820 with three straightforward public health requirements of small gatherings of 15 or less, mask wearing 00:07:33.820 --> 00:07:39.350 and social distancing – will get us past this crisis faster and with fewer people harmed 00:07:39.350 --> 00:07:40.750 by the virus. 00:07:40.750 --> 00:07:43.720 I share your desire to be on-Grounds this fall. 00:07:43.720 --> 00:07:49.740 I miss the energy you bring to this place and I like you, I want us to succeed. 00:07:49.740 --> 00:07:53.660 So, let’s step up and do this together. 00:07:53.660 --> 00:07:57.940 My sincere thanks to each of you for taking the time to listen to this message.