WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Less than 24 hours after Purdue University president announced new social distancing rules for the college community, 36 students were suspended Friday after attending an off-campus house party that violated the rules.
The West Lafayette, Indiana university, which plans to resume in-person classes Monday, said the actions of the students could undo months of preparation to make sure its students and staff are ready to start the semester with special COVID-19 precautions in place.
"Purdue University has been clear and consistent with our messaging to students about the Protect Purdue Plan and the expectations they would need to follow if they made the decision to be on campus this fall," Dr. Katie Sermersheim, associate vice provost and dean of students, said in a statement to WBBM.
Under the Protect Purdue Plan, students must limit the size of physical gatherings and practice social distancing in classrooms, dorms and dining halls.
Sermersheim said Purdue asked students to put large gatherings in confined spaces on hold until the "pandemic can be better understood and controlled."
"Unfortunately, everything we have done — the months of planning to give our students the opportunity to continue their educational pursuits in person — can be undone in the blink of an eye — with just one party or event that does not follow the rules and guidelines," Sermersheim's statement read.
Violations of the Protect Purdue Plan will be added to the code of conduct regulations, the school said. This means students who violate the code could be subject to disciplinary action. They can also appeal the suspension under the current school’s procedures.
"If you don't abide by rules, there is no place for you here," Sermersheim said.
According to the university’s COVID-19 dashboard, 13 staff and students have tested posted for coronavirus since Aug. 1. The university, which requires staff to undergo weekly testing and is randomly testing students, has reported 1,695 total tests so far and the university positivity rate is at .77%
On Saturday, Indiana reported nine new coronavirus-related deaths, bringing the total death toll to over 3,000. The state also reported 1,010 new cases, bringing the total number of cases to 85,317. The IndyStar reported the state's most recent seven-day positivity rate, accounting for Aug. 9 to Aug. 15, is at 7.4%, which is a decline from 7.7% in the weeks prior.
Many universities are starting the year fully remote after hundreds of cases were reported on campus. UNC-Chapel Hill announced Thursday all of its undergraduate courses are switching to virtual instruction after another 130 students have tested positive for COVID-19. However, Purdue has yet to make that call.
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