WEBVTT Kind: captions Language: en 00:00:00.237 --> 00:00:01.470 Hi, everyone. 00:00:01.470 --> 00:00:05.899 As you have hopefully already heard, at the advice of our public health experts, we have 00:00:05.899 --> 00:00:10.470 lifted most of the the temporary restrictions that we put in place about ten days ago, and 00:00:10.470 --> 00:00:15.000 we have largely returned to the protocols in place at the beginning of the semester. 00:00:15.000 --> 00:00:20.130 This means, among other things, that in-person gatherings are allowed if there are no more 00:00:20.130 --> 00:00:26.430 than 6 people involved and that the IM-Rec facilities and the library will be open starting tomorrow. 00:00:26.430 --> 00:00:29.859 Full details are in the email sent out this morning to the community. 00:00:29.859 --> 00:00:33.160 I’m speaking to you now to say three brief things. 00:00:33.160 --> 00:00:35.410 First, thank you. 00:00:35.410 --> 00:00:39.550 Thank you for your sacrifice, especially over the last 10 days. 00:00:39.550 --> 00:00:45.220 Because of your collective efforts, our case numbers dropped from a high of more than 200 00:00:45.220 --> 00:00:49.290 new cases on February 16 to only 26 new cases on Wednesday. 00:00:49.290 --> 00:00:52.670 I know it wasn’t easy, especially for our students. 00:00:52.670 --> 00:00:57.330 I also know it that it can seem at times like these measures are intentionally punitive 00:00:57.330 --> 00:01:02.210 or harsh, but I promise they are public health measures, not punishment, and public health 00:01:02.210 --> 00:01:06.930 measures recommended by our public health experts, whose advice and recommendations 00:01:06.930 --> 00:01:09.640 we have been following from the beginning. 00:01:09.640 --> 00:01:16.409 We are all weary of this disease and how it’s changed our lives—faculty, staff, students, 00:01:16.409 --> 00:01:17.979 and parents alike. 00:01:17.979 --> 00:01:23.930 As the parent of two sons in college, I know this is getting old—really old--for everyone 00:01:23.930 --> 00:01:25.090 and that it remains hard. 00:01:25.090 --> 00:01:29.800 But I also know that the daily, smart decisions you have been making are working, and will 00:01:29.800 --> 00:01:31.340 continue to work. 00:01:31.340 --> 00:01:36.620 So to all of you, whether you are a living in Bonnycastle or Lambeth, on Grounds or off, 00:01:36.620 --> 00:01:41.740 whether you are a law student or a linguistics major, a second year or a fourth year, a master’s 00:01:41.740 --> 00:01:45.850 student or a doctoral student or anywhere in between, thank you. 00:01:45.850 --> 00:01:48.290 Second, this isn't over. 00:01:48.290 --> 00:01:51.030 We’re not yet in the clear when it comes to COVID. 00:01:51.030 --> 00:01:55.770 Our numbers are better, but we would like to see them remain at this level or lower 00:01:55.770 --> 00:02:00.330 over a longer period of time, so we can be more confident that we have contained the 00:02:00.330 --> 00:02:02.600 virus to manageable numbers. 00:02:02.600 --> 00:02:06.260 This is why we are keeping our public health measures from the beginning of the semester 00:02:06.260 --> 00:02:08.229 in place for the time being. 00:02:08.229 --> 00:02:13.640 If the trends we are seeing continue, we should be able to ease some of the current restrictions--and 00:02:13.640 --> 00:02:19.790 increase the limit on the size of gatherings, for example, or allow more fans to attend 00:02:19.790 --> 00:02:21.040 sporting events. 00:02:21.040 --> 00:02:24.330 So please: follow all the public health measures. 00:02:24.330 --> 00:02:27.060 Stay masked and physically distanced. 00:02:27.060 --> 00:02:30.819 If you are eating with someone indoors, please limit your group to 2. 00:02:30.819 --> 00:02:36.260 Do not gather in groups larger than six, and please do your best to stick with the same 00:02:36.260 --> 00:02:41.730 six-person pod or bubble as much as possible, and limit your contact with others outside 00:02:41.730 --> 00:02:48.190 that group, since mixing pods can spread the virus by increasing opportunities for transmission. 00:02:48.190 --> 00:02:52.780 Third, and finally, we can do this. 00:02:52.780 --> 00:02:58.060 I know that marathon analogies are overused, including by me, but they are hard to resist given that 00:02:58.060 --> 00:03:03.030 we are approaching our one-year anniversary with Covid on grounds. 00:03:03.030 --> 00:03:09.020 This moment feels, right now, like we have hit the 20-mile mark in a marathon. 00:03:09.020 --> 00:03:14.120 This is the point in a marathon where runners are not just physically tired, but mentally 00:03:14.120 --> 00:03:18.840 exhausted as well—it’s for both reasons that experienced marathoners often say the 00:03:18.840 --> 00:03:22.980 race really begins at mile 20. 00:03:22.980 --> 00:03:27.849 And so it is with us: We have come a long way, the end is not quite in sight but we 00:03:27.849 --> 00:03:29.700 know we are getting there. 00:03:29.700 --> 00:03:33.900 But most of us are also tired, physically and mentally. 00:03:33.900 --> 00:03:38.599 And when that happens, it is easy to be short-tempered, and it is easy to feel anxious about your 00:03:38.599 --> 00:03:41.520 ability to get to the finish line. 00:03:41.520 --> 00:03:48.650 Runners, at this point, can turn on each other and be harsh in those last six miles with others who get in their way, and they 00:03:48.650 --> 00:03:52.810 can also focus solely on their own needs and not think of others. 00:03:52.810 --> 00:03:57.569 I remember, with embarrassment, running in a marathon on a really hot day, and at about 00:03:57.569 --> 00:04:03.010 mile 22, I saw a young boy who looked like he was holding out a popsicle for me, so I 00:04:03.010 --> 00:04:04.099 grabbed it. 00:04:04.099 --> 00:04:09.340 As I did and ran away, I heard him say “Hey, that guy took my popsicle,” and I’m sorry 00:04:09.340 --> 00:04:12.090 to say I just kept running. 00:04:12.090 --> 00:04:17.147 You do come across other runners during this stretch who are much more admirable than I was 00:04:17.396 --> 00:04:23.440 The very best are those who, while obviously tired themselves, offer an encouraging word or two—like 00:04:23.440 --> 00:04:26.960 you have this, or we have this, or we can do this. 00:04:26.960 --> 00:04:31.460 These runners make you feel not just like you can do it, but that you are in it together—not 00:04:31.460 --> 00:04:36.470 just running your own race, but running as part of a community with a common goal of 00:04:36.470 --> 00:04:38.160 reaching the finish line. 00:04:38.160 --> 00:04:43.360 I urge you to remember that we are in this marathon together because we are part of the 00:04:43.360 --> 00:04:44.680 same community. 00:04:44.680 --> 00:04:49.500 When you are deciding, each day, whether to follow the public health protocols, I hope 00:04:49.500 --> 00:04:54.260 you will remember that failing to do so not only puts you and others at risk, but it also 00:04:54.260 --> 00:04:59.880 lets down those in the community who have been faithfully following the protocols day in and day out. 00:04:59.880 --> 00:05:04.370 At the same time, innocent and honest mistakes have been made and will likely continue to 00:05:04.370 --> 00:05:08.160 be made, and these deserve our grace and compassion. 00:05:08.160 --> 00:05:13.380 More generally and finally, I would urge all of us to summon the strength to finish what we’ve 00:05:13.380 --> 00:05:18.259 started and to do what we can to bring out the best in others—because that’s the 00:05:18.259 --> 00:05:21.360 only way we will get to the finish line together. 00:05:21.360 --> 00:05:23.781 We can do this. Thank you.