Tag: WSBT-TV

Notre Dame is Failing to Properly Accommodate Its COVID-19 Patients

On Wednesday, WSBT-TV broadcast a reporter that included an interview with an anonymous Notre Dame student who tested positive for COVID-19.

On Wednesday, WSBT-TV broadcast a report that included an interview with an anonymous Notre Dame student who tested positive for COVID-19. The student provided a damning description of every step of the process from the moment she woke up sick to the sterile conditions of the apartment she is being quarantined in. “Scary” and “stressful” are among the words she’s used to describe her experience.

A major university like Notre Dame has to do better than this. It had more than enough time to figure all of these logistics out, and we’re getting a story that makes COVID-19 testing and accommodations seem more like an appointment with your cable company or waiting at the DMV. Nothing is being handled in a caring or timely matter.

COVID-19 patients at Notre Dame are being treated like cattle. The university has an obligation to protect its students no matter how many people are infected by the virus. Many college students’ entire worlds take place on their campus, so where else are they supposed to go to get tested, treated and quarantined? This is when individuals become numbers, and that’s not good.

It’s almost as if Notre Dame is hovering its finger over the button that will send its on-campus students home, so it figures, “We’re kicking everyone off soon anyway, so do we really need to fix everything?” The simple answer to that is we are living through the greatest crisis in our lifetime, and there’s no guarantee you’ll be making that call. Even if you do, you have to properly and efficiently care for your sick students in whatever time they still have in South Bend. If you’re not, why is anyone even allowed at the university right now?

What’s Next for Notre Dame Students After New COVID-19 Outbreak?

Notre Dame now is at 222 COVID-19 cases since students returned to campus, including 73 reported Wednesday.

Notre Dame now is at 222 COVID-19 cases since students returned to campus, including 73 reported Wednesday. This comes a day after the university implemented online learning for the next two weeks. During that time, we should see if that and the threat of possible disciplinary action make a difference.

The uncertainty of it all has left students split on what the outcome of this will be. A report by WSBT-TV highlights this. Views vary from nothing getting better to students using this time as an incentive to avoid going home. It’s a perfect metaphor for COVID-19 itself.

Whether or not the university can discipline the students, even if it really wanted to, is debatable because of the ever-changing environment. The Rev. John Jenkins, Notre Dame’s president, was right not to promise harsh consequences for behavior that allows COVID-19 to thrive. With so little information about this virus available, there are no definitive rules for avoiding it, so containment by way of mask-wearing and social distancing is the way to go. Hopefully, this is a wake-up call for students to do both of those things.

Spike in COVID-19 Cases Happening at Notre Dame

As the ACC pushes forward with its fall football plans, COVID-19 continues to run rampant everywhere.

As the ACC pushes forward with its fall football plans, COVID-19 continues to run rampant everywhere. One question on Notre Dame fans’ minds has to be what happens to the season if the South Bend campus sees an outbreak of the virus. If present trends continue, we might get an answer soon.

The South Bend Tribune has reported a COVID-19 spike at Notre Dame. Before descending on campus, the nearly 12,000 returning students had to get tested for the virus. Only 33, or less than a half percent, tested positive. Now that students are back, things have taken a dramatic turn.

From Aug. 6 to Friday, Notre Dame has reported 29 positive tests, including 10 on the final day of that span. Since Aug. 3, there has been an 8 percent positivity rate. One university spokesman attributed many of the positive tests to an off-campus party, which was covered by WSBT-TV.

While Notre Dame is not at critical mass yet, it continues to be worth questioning what happens if students are sent home this fall and football continues to be played. What will it say if the players have to remain while their fellow students are elsewhere? At that point, the university would have some serious explaining to do for what would seem like reckless behavior. A lot of soul searching might be on the horizon.

Regis Philbin Will Have Funeral, Be Buried at Notre Dame

Until his death Friday, Regis Philbin was one of Notre Dame’s most famous living alumni.

Until his death Friday, Regis Philbin was one of Notre Dame’s most famous living alumni. No matter how famous he became, he never forgot the university that helped shape him. Now, his loyalty to his alma mater will be reflected in his ultimate acts.

On a date yet to be determined, Philbin’s funeral will take place at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart on campus. He then will be laid to rest at Cedar Grove Cemetery. A university official reported the news to WSBT-TV in South Bend.

Cedar Grove is the final resting place for many people connected with Notre Dame. Among them are legendary coach and athletic director Moose Krause and alma mater composer Joseph Casasanta. Initially, only faculty and staff were allowed to be buried there. More recently, the “Coming Home” initiative has expanded that policy to include alumni.

It’s still hard to fathom that one of the warmest personalities ever to grace our televisions is gone. But the memories we have of him never will be forgotten. And if we ever want to see him in this life again, all we have to do is head to Notre Dame.