Some Northeastern students may not see their parents smiling and waving from the stands when they walk down the FleetCenter aisle this June at the commencement ceremonies.
With countires like China and Taiwan considered to be at high risk for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), and citizens of Hanoi, Vietnam, Singapore and Toronto, Canada on a travel alert status, the university is advising families who live in affected cities exhibiting any symptoms not to attend commencement.
“If ill, students, faculty, staff and visitors from high-risk areas who are planning to come to Northeastern are strongly advised not to come,” the Northeastern University Public Relations Web site says. “This includes family and friends planning to attend commencement, and students and faculty planning to participate in NU-based courses or programs.”
While no members of the Northeastern community have fallen ill with SARS, the university is taking precautions to make sure students are safe. It is not forcing families to stay away, but hoping that they will oblige and not put other people at risk.
“We’re not telling people they can’t come,” said Director of University Communications Ed Klotzbier. “If you do feel ill or you do have any of the symptoms, we’re asking you to take a pass.”
One student’s mother already contacted Lance Hopkins, the director of the Lane Health Center, about the issue.
Hopkins told the mother, “The recommendation is that they not travel to the area unless it is essential.”
In addition to the commencement ceremonies, the university is also worried about students who are from the affected areas planning on going home for the summer, as well as those who plan on studying abroad or working a co-op job in one of the cities.
“Unless the travel is essential, students, faculty and staff are advised not to go to a high-risk area,” the NUPR Web site says.
As of now, the university is unsure of exactly how many students the warnings will affect and hope to obtain a better count with the Web site posting.
“It’s possible that as many as 100 might go to one of those areas in normal times,” Hopkins said. “But we don’t know how many will alter their plans.”
“We put this out and we’re trying to get a temperature of how many people are affected by it,” Klotzbier said.
Though Hopkins realizes the inconvenience imposed on some foreign students if they are not able to go home for the summer, he said that the students are responsible for making their own summer plans.
“They would have to make their own arrangements, at least at this time,” Hopkins said. “There may be individual situations, but not as a general rule.”
Hopkins also said that students who do choose to go home for the summer may have trouble getting back into the country.
For travel advisories and further warnings, students are advised to look at the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and the Center for Disease Control, who advised Northeastern to ask families from affected areas to take extra precautions, or the World Health Organization Web sites, or contact Lance Hopkins at (617) 373-8417.
