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Good morning.
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaand we’re cancelling school.
Due to new information received March 9, and based on our desire to protect the health and safety of our community from the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), the university is cancelling classes for the remainder of this week.
— Vanderbilt University (@VanderbiltU) March 10, 2020
So, to recap: I leave for a few days (to visit family in Tennessee, ironically), and now the world is about to ened?
What happened, it appears, is that a Vanderbilt student (who, ironically, is the editorial director of the Hustler) went to Barcelona over spring break with a group of other Vanderbilt students, came home, and then tested positive for COVID-19. While that student had gone home after returning from Barcelona, some of the students he was traveling with had already returned to campus.
As a result, the university is now suspending all in-person classes through at least March 30 and holding classes online. In addition, all non-athletic university events and student gatherings are cancelled until the end of the semester.
So far, athletics is not affected, but we’re waiting for further updates. Meanwhile, two miles away from campus, the SEC Tournament will be held this week in front of close to 20,000 fans. Yes, Vanderbilt will be participating.