Dear Kenyon College community,
Today, the College received a second report of elevated levels of coronavirus in the wastewater of the Village of Gambier, a system that services Kenyon’s campus, most village residents and businesses, and Wiggin Street Elementary School. While Kenyon has had no positive test results in the past seven days, the wastewater data combined with the increase in cases in Ohio have triggered us to raise our alert level to moderate while we collect more data. Through next Friday, Oct. 23, we will take the following precautionary steps:
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Next week, all students in residence will be tested for COVID-19 Monday through Thursday in the Lowry Center. On Sunday, the Cox Health and Counseling Center will distribute the schedule for testing and influenza vaccinations.
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Dining services will provide all meals to go. There will be no seating in Peirce.
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Athletics activities will be suspended and the Lowry Center will be closed for fitness and recreation.
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There will be no in-person, extracurricular activities or small gatherings.
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Visitors to campus will be restricted to only essential service providers; there will be no new admissions or athletics tours scheduled.
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All other operations, including classes, will continue as scheduled with standard precautions: wearing a mask, keeping a 6-foot distance and washing hands regularly.
We have learned over the course of the pandemic that acting quickly to minimize the risk of transmission is one of the most important steps a community can take to protect public health. But we recognize the toll that heightening restrictions will have on our community, especially our students. We ask that as you continue your good work in adhering to public health guidance, you also continue to take good care of yourself and your peers. Stay connected, get the rest you need, make space for levity. The Office of Student Engagement will continue to plan activities for this quiet period; follow them on Instagram, @kenyoncampuslife.
Students, if you are feeling overwhelmed, please reach out to the Cox Health and Counseling Center at counseling@kenyon.edu. They can connect you with services wherever you are located, including with the text-based therapy service Talkspace. College chaplains also remain available for support; you can reach Jewish Chaplain Marc Bragin at braginm@kenyon.edu and Chaplain Rachel Kessler, priest-in-charge of Harcourt Parish, at kesslerr@kenyon.edu.
Thank you for all you are doing to keep our community well.
Sincerely,
Sean Decatur
President