Cowboy football kicked off on Friday, October 30, amid increased COVID-19 precautions on campus. While the game required that fans wore masks and socially distanced, 7,000 people were allowed in the stadium.
“I think we should be allowed to go to football games and other student activities. However, if they are allowing us to engage in those activities, I believe that they should allow us to go to classes in person,” said Noah Wozney, a senior studying mathematics.
According to a poll on social media, which 17 students responded to, 88% said it was not okay for UW to have a football game during the pandemic.
“If we are willing to risk exposing ourselves for extracurricular activities I think that we should have the option to risk exposure for the main reason we are here, education. I just think it is hypocritical of them to allow one thing, and not the other.”
Classes this fall have been mostly online, with some hybrid and in person options during different phases of the UW COVID-19 plan. Following Thanksgiving break, all classes and finals will be done online.
Kailee Behunin, a junior studying anthropology, said, “I think its abhorrent for a university in a community that is struggling with some of the highest COVID cases and worst effects of the pandemic seen in the state to be actively hosting totally unnecessary events that are not in line with public health guidelines and that have a high potential to harm the community this university is meant to benefit.”
“Albany county’s case numbers are a direct reflection of the university’s inability to curb the spread of the virus. Continuing to exacerbate the harm our university is creating for the student community and Laramie at large by holding something as trivial as a football game, when students can’t even attend all their classes in person is at best a greedy, and dangerous, way to make money,” said Behunin.
“Although I suppose the university is sure it needs more money since some of it’s treasured humanities and social science programs, like creative writing, American studies, psychology, etc, are on the chopping block due to budget cuts.”
According to the Wyoming Department of Health, there was an increase of confirmed cases following the weekend of October 30. This weekend also included Halloween activities.
