Just some FYI, across the street, Baylor College of Medicine delayed in person classes for a week due to cases among the incoming class. Also, the UT School of Public Health delayed in person classes till October 4th.

UTSA announced last week they're online only for the first few weeks.

I dropped off my younger daughter at Baylor today. Very few masks on that campus. I think 57 percent of the students are vaccinated (70 percent counting staff and faculty). I suspect Covid numbers will be very high there shortly.

It's asinine for any college students not to be vaccinated at this point. If you're not, you're going to be going through 1 to 2 Covid tests a week. Who wants that - even if they're saliva tests? At least Baylor is promoting the heck out of getting vaccinated.

(08-19-2021 12:37 PM)ExcitedOwl18 Wrote:  Ridiculous that they're moving online.

If I (or my parents) were paying sticker at Rice for an online experience, I would be livid.

What's the point of being vaccinated (which turns covid into a bad cold) if you can't reap the benefits?

I totally get this.

My daughter's college has done an interesting thing. They have a condensed first three weeks of school where everyone takes one class for 3 hours a day. Limited exposure as a result and essentially, quarantining after returning from home. Doesn't stop transmission, but will limit some spread if there is an outbreak. People get tested for the first 3 weeks etc etc etc.

I think that's a decent compromise, and you can select classes that are perhaps less important to be present EVERY DAY and allow people to attend virtually as they choose or in person.

(08-19-2021 05:15 PM)mebehutchi Wrote:  And in the meantime - Dear senior class. Thanks for the check. Welcome to year two of online college. And, by the way no beer. Sorry about your mental well being but we have statistics to manage.

I recall the first time I met Leebron, it was at an alumni event in SF and he waxed rhapsodic on the impact of 'online colleges' and how it would be great for lots of people, but that the Rice Experience (and other elite colleges) couldn't be replicated online. Ironic that this was probably around 2017 or so.

(08-19-2021 09:10 PM)Fort Bend Owl Wrote:  UTSA announced last week they're online only for the first few weeks.

I dropped off my younger daughter at Baylor today. Very few masks on that campus. I think 57 percent of the students are vaccinated (70 percent counting staff and faculty). I suspect Covid numbers will be very high there shortly.

It's asinine for any college students not to be vaccinated at this point. If you're not, you're going to be going through 1 to 2 Covid tests a week. Who wants that - even if they're saliva tests? At least Baylor is promoting the heck out of getting vaccinated.

My youngest grandson starts college in Iowa next week, and chose to get vaccinated, to avoid hassle and after consulting with his doctor.

I am fine with having non-vaccinated on campus as long as they test regularly. Some people can't get the vaccine for medical reasons, others for personal belief, I don't judge them as long as they act responsibly and don't argue against the vaccine's protection.

Some vaccinated folks are more reckless once vaccinated and with the Delta they are more likely to spread it than some non-vaccinated who practice social distancing and wear masks all the time because they know they're not vaccinated. The key now is testing. Rice, as I understand, tests vaccinated students once a week if they are in contact with other people on campus. And the non-vaccinated have to get tested twice a week regardless. It's a good all inclusive policy if the tests are free and accessible. The guy who is not vaccinated but tested negative 3 days ago is probably safer to be around right now than the person who vaccinated 6 months ago but isn't being tested regularly.

(08-20-2021 10:56 AM)Buho00 Wrote:  The guy who is not vaccinated but tested negative 3 days ago is probably safer to be around right now than the person who vaccinated 6 months ago but isn't being tested regularly.

good point.

(08-20-2021 11:16 AM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  

(08-20-2021 10:56 AM)Buho00 Wrote:  The guy who is not vaccinated but tested negative 3 days ago is probably safer to be around right now than the person who vaccinated 6 months ago but isn't being tested regularly.

good point.

Agree.

(08-20-2021 11:53 AM)Rice93 Wrote:  

(08-20-2021 11:16 AM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  

(08-20-2021 10:56 AM)Buho00 Wrote:  The guy who is not vaccinated but tested negative 3 days ago is probably safer to be around right now than the person who vaccinated 6 months ago but isn't being tested regularly.

good point.

Agree.

I'm not sure whether to agree or disagree because I am neither a physician or an epidemiologist! From what little I have read on Delta, it sounds like vaccination is still keeping viral loads down and significantly reducing transmissibility even in the breakthrough cases.

I am genuinely curious how that compares to the risks of an unvaccinated person who hasn't been tested in 3 days (all other things being equal between the two individuals)!

(08-19-2021 12:52 PM)cr11owl Wrote:  A bunch of clowns running our university.

Calling these decision makers "clowns" is insulting to clowns. I "wish" a clown was calling the shots at Rice.

(08-19-2021 01:17 PM)RiceLad15 Wrote:  

(08-19-2021 12:37 PM)ExcitedOwl18 Wrote:  Ridiculous that they're moving online.

If I (or my parents) were paying sticker at Rice for an online experience, I would be livid.

What's the point of being vaccinated (which turns covid into a bad cold) if you can't reap the benefits?

I’d hold off on that for now, since it only says it will be 2 weeks. But if it extends to the rest of the semester, that’s a whole ‘nother ball game.

Everyone masking during classes on a campus that has a high percentage of vaccinations should be enough to protect faculty, staff, and students, from the worst of this.

But if your vaccinated who are you protecting? Are not staff, students et al 90+% vaccinated. So now explain the reason for the mask. Anyone can wear one but why force the mask on the vaccinated. Logic does not work here.

(08-19-2021 02:08 PM)mrbig Wrote:  

(08-19-2021 01:17 PM)RiceLad15 Wrote:  

(08-19-2021 12:37 PM)ExcitedOwl18 Wrote:  Ridiculous that they're moving online.

If I (or my parents) were paying sticker at Rice for an online experience, I would be livid.

What's the point of being vaccinated (which turns covid into a bad cold) if you can't reap the benefits?

I’d hold off on that for now, since it only says it will be 2 weeks. But if it extends to the rest of the semester, that’s a whole ‘nother ball game.

Everyone masking during classes on a campus that has a high percentage of vaccinations should be enough to protect faculty, staff, and students, from the worst of this.

Sure, most cases are a "bad cold" for vaccinated folks. But with Delta there has definitely been some increase in serious illness and death amongst vaccinated folks, compared to the non-Delta strains of covid. I know at the local children's hospital in NOLA there have been a few deaths, including the death of a vaccinated teen.

I think a 2-week window is a smart decision by Rice. I think there have certainly been some overreactions, but this isn't just about the undergrad students at Rice, it is about the employees, grad students, etc. who leave campus every single day and interact with the rest of Houston a lot more than undergrads.

Goodowl - you vaccinated? Lots of people in this country do what they are told. We get the MMR vaccine, we don't ignore red lights, we complain about elected officials, we have access to a wide variety of news & opinion options. Sure, we have a lot of freedoms, but this country isn't built on lawless anarchy like you seem to think. Wearing a mask is a minor inconvenience and getting vaccinated is just part of life for the vast majority of this country. Why you and your yolk suddenly decided to make vaccines some political civil liberties issue when the majority of conservative leaders have been vaccinated (some without fanfare) boggles my mind. And I humbly request that you keep your comments on this topic to The Quad where it belongs ... but maybe this is just another example of you rebelling?

I think the point here is that the MMR vaccine is fully approved by the FDA. Why the FDA is dragging their feet on full approval is a question for the FDA. Once full approval is granted by the FDA then requiring the vaccine becomes much easier (ala the Meningitis vaccine etc.). The issue is that this is ONLY approved for EMERGENCY USE. Lift that and then see the reluctance diminish.

(08-20-2021 01:56 PM)Musicowl1965 Wrote:  

(08-19-2021 01:17 PM)RiceLad15 Wrote:  

(08-19-2021 12:37 PM)ExcitedOwl18 Wrote:  Ridiculous that they're moving online.

If I (or my parents) were paying sticker at Rice for an online experience, I would be livid.

What's the point of being vaccinated (which turns covid into a bad cold) if you can't reap the benefits?

I’d hold off on that for now, since it only says it will be 2 weeks. But if it extends to the rest of the semester, that’s a whole ‘nother ball game.

Everyone masking during classes on a campus that has a high percentage of vaccinations should be enough to protect faculty, staff, and students, from the worst of this.

But if your vaccinated who are you protecting? Are not staff, students et al 90+% vaccinated. So now explain the reason for the mask. Anyone can wear one but why force the mask on the vaccinated. Logic does not work here.

Geez. You force a mask on everyone (including the vaccinated) to ensure that the unvaccinated mask up. Otherwise, the unvaccinated would take it as a free pass not to wear a mask, which is precisely what happened when the CDC changed their guidelines several months ago and said those vaccinated no longer need to wear a mask indoors. The sad truth is that the ONLY way to get those still unvaccinated to wear masks is to impose a mask mandate on everyone.

(08-20-2021 03:37 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(08-20-2021 01:56 PM)Musicowl1965 Wrote:  

(08-19-2021 01:17 PM)RiceLad15 Wrote:  

(08-19-2021 12:37 PM)ExcitedOwl18 Wrote:  Ridiculous that they're moving online.

If I (or my parents) were paying sticker at Rice for an online experience, I would be livid.

What's the point of being vaccinated (which turns covid into a bad cold) if you can't reap the benefits?

I’d hold off on that for now, since it only says it will be 2 weeks. But if it extends to the rest of the semester, that’s a whole ‘nother ball game.

Everyone masking during classes on a campus that has a high percentage of vaccinations should be enough to protect faculty, staff, and students, from the worst of this.

But if your vaccinated who are you protecting? Are not staff, students et al 90+% vaccinated. So now explain the reason for the mask. Anyone can wear one but why force the mask on the vaccinated. Logic does not work here.

Geez. You force a mask on everyone (including the vaccinated) to ensure that the unvaccinated mask up. Otherwise, the unvaccinated would take it as a free pass not to wear a mask, which is precisely what happened when the CDC changed their guidelines several months ago and said those vaccinated no longer need to wear a mask indoors. The sad truth is that the ONLY way to get those still unvaccinated to wear masks is to impose a mask mandate on everyone.

(08-20-2021 01:59 PM)Musicowl1965 Wrote:  

(08-19-2021 02:08 PM)mrbig Wrote:  

(08-19-2021 01:17 PM)RiceLad15 Wrote:  

(08-19-2021 12:37 PM)ExcitedOwl18 Wrote:  Ridiculous that they're moving online.

If I (or my parents) were paying sticker at Rice for an online experience, I would be livid.

What's the point of being vaccinated (which turns covid into a bad cold) if you can't reap the benefits?

I’d hold off on that for now, since it only says it will be 2 weeks. But if it extends to the rest of the semester, that’s a whole ‘nother ball game.

Everyone masking during classes on a campus that has a high percentage of vaccinations should be enough to protect faculty, staff, and students, from the worst of this.

Sure, most cases are a "bad cold" for vaccinated folks. But with Delta there has definitely been some increase in serious illness and death amongst vaccinated folks, compared to the non-Delta strains of covid. I know at the local children's hospital in NOLA there have been a few deaths, including the death of a vaccinated teen.

I think a 2-week window is a smart decision by Rice. I think there have certainly been some overreactions, but this isn't just about the undergrad students at Rice, it is about the employees, grad students, etc. who leave campus every single day and interact with the rest of Houston a lot more than undergrads.

Goodowl - you vaccinated? Lots of people in this country do what they are told. We get the MMR vaccine, we don't ignore red lights, we complain about elected officials, we have access to a wide variety of news & opinion options. Sure, we have a lot of freedoms, but this country isn't built on lawless anarchy like you seem to think. Wearing a mask is a minor inconvenience and getting vaccinated is just part of life for the vast majority of this country. Why you and your yolk suddenly decided to make vaccines some political civil liberties issue when the majority of conservative leaders have been vaccinated (some without fanfare) boggles my mind. And I humbly request that you keep your comments on this topic to The Quad where it belongs ... but maybe this is just another example of you rebelling?

I think the point here is that the MMR vaccine is fully approved by the FDA. Why the FDA is dragging their feet on full approval is a question for the FDA. Once full approval is granted by the FDA then requiring the vaccine becomes much easier (ala the Meningitis vaccine etc.). The issue is that this is ONLY approved for EMERGENCY USE. Lift that and then see the reluctance diminish.

I very much doubt the reluctance will diminish. Rather, as you correctly point out, the government, businesses, airlines and restaurants/hotels/entertainment venues will be more willing to impose vaccine mandates.

(08-20-2021 01:56 PM)Musicowl1965 Wrote:  

(08-19-2021 01:17 PM)RiceLad15 Wrote:  

(08-19-2021 12:37 PM)ExcitedOwl18 Wrote:  Ridiculous that they're moving online.

If I (or my parents) were paying sticker at Rice for an online experience, I would be livid.

What's the point of being vaccinated (which turns covid into a bad cold) if you can't reap the benefits?

I’d hold off on that for now, since it only says it will be 2 weeks. But if it extends to the rest of the semester, that’s a whole ‘nother ball game.

Everyone masking during classes on a campus that has a high percentage of vaccinations should be enough to protect faculty, staff, and students, from the worst of this.

But if your vaccinated who are you protecting? Are not staff, students et al 90+% vaccinated. So now explain the reason for the mask. Anyone can wear one but why force the mask on the vaccinated. Logic does not work here.

I don’t know if faculty and staff are. And we then don’t know if faculty and staff have unvaccinated family members or children at home.

Just a lot of externalities here, which is why the university is cautious.

If the posts by students here are true, the university admin has massively f*cked up. Which isn't shocking, given that they are in "administration"

https://www.reddit.com/r/riceuniversity/

https://www.keranews.org/education/2021-...plications

College College Dean of Nursing dies of Covid.

Do you really blame college professors and staff members everywhere for being a bit nervous still? The vaccines give you tremendous odds on not getting serious symptoms if you do get Covid, but they don't prevent you from getting it altogether.

Personally (as a parent of two college students now), I think universities need to put their money where their mouth is and pretty much offer substantial financial breaks for students if they're vaccinated. That would be the most effective way to up the vaccine percentages everywhere.

(08-20-2021 05:57 PM)Fort Bend Owl Wrote:  https://www.keranews.org/education/2021-...plications

College College Dean of Nursing dies of Covid.

Do you really blame college professors and staff members everywhere for being a bit nervous still? The vaccines give you tremendous odds on not getting serious symptoms if you do get Covid, but they don't prevent you from getting it altogether.

Personally (as a parent of two college students now), I think universities need to put their money where their mouth is and pretty much offer substantial financial breaks for students if they're vaccinated. That would be the most effective way to up the vaccine percentages everywhere.

Why do college professors and staff act like they’re exempt from going to work like people from so many other professions (including other white collar professions) have been for the last 18 months?

I work in sales strategy for a CPG company and have been visiting our retailers since last summer (we took a three month hiatus in Spring 2020 when we couldn’t secure PPE). Did I think that everyone in the loading dock I was at three weeks ago in a Pittsburgh Wal-Mart was vaxxed? Nope. But I have a job to do and we need to fix our go-to-market system… So I went knowing that even if I got covid, my odds (because I’m vaccinated) of dying would be higher driving to the airport the next morning…

(08-20-2021 03:37 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(08-20-2021 01:56 PM)Musicowl1965 Wrote:  

(08-19-2021 01:17 PM)RiceLad15 Wrote:  

(08-19-2021 12:37 PM)ExcitedOwl18 Wrote:  Ridiculous that they're moving online.

If I (or my parents) were paying sticker at Rice for an online experience, I would be livid.

What's the point of being vaccinated (which turns covid into a bad cold) if you can't reap the benefits?

I’d hold off on that for now, since it only says it will be 2 weeks. But if it extends to the rest of the semester, that’s a whole ‘nother ball game.

Everyone masking during classes on a campus that has a high percentage of vaccinations should be enough to protect faculty, staff, and students, from the worst of this.

But if your vaccinated who are you protecting? Are not staff, students et al 90+% vaccinated. So now explain the reason for the mask. Anyone can wear one but why force the mask on the vaccinated. Logic does not work here.

Geez. You force a mask on everyone (including the vaccinated) to ensure that the unvaccinated mask up. Otherwise, the unvaccinated would take it as a free pass not to wear a mask, which is precisely what happened when the CDC changed their guidelines several months ago and said those vaccinated no longer need to wear a mask indoors. The sad truth is that the ONLY way to get those still unvaccinated to wear masks is to impose a mask mandate on everyone.

Does everyone include liberal elites attending 60th birthday bashes?

On a slightly different note:
If I were the Rice coaching staff, I'd continue to emphasize the Covid safety protocols as a #1 priority entering the season. I'd think that a team that could stay fully healthy in this regard, and not deal with so many quarantines etc., would have a sizable advantage in several games. Or put another way, every Covid case is almost like a major injury in effect.
Of course you couldn't beat the teams that decide to cancel on account of Covid...