Hunter
08/21/20
Thursday evening traffic was shut down on Riverside Drive as protesters from Iowa Student Action, the local healthcare workers union, and the Campaign to Organize Graduate Students called on the state Board of Regents to continue with online-exclusive learning and reduce tuitions.
The group says although some coronavirus mitigation efforts are in place at the University of Iowa, Iowa State and the University of Northern Iowa, all members of the communities are at risk.
A release from Iowa Citizens For Community Improvement quotes ISU student Alexa Rodriguez as saying, “Students, staff and community members are going to die. It’s unsafe to reopen and (the Regents) know it. I’m scared for my life.”
175 Iowa State students have already tested positive for COVID-19 since they reopened for in-person classes on Monday. Neither the UI or UNI are requiring student testing before they move into residence halls.
Students who have housing contracts on or off campus and scholarship requirements make it hard for students to take a leave of absence until they feel it’s safe to return to campus.
The previous night, a group marched to U of I President Bruce Harreld’s residence with the same message.