Photos of pandemic party at Rutgers stirs controversy on Twitter

On Oct. 12, a Rutgers student posted two pictures of a packed New Brunswick dage on Twitter. These pictures did not belong to the original poster herself but were screenshots of pictures originally taken by another person. 

The tweet, posted against the backdrop of a national resurgence in coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases, was met with an overwhelmingly critical response to the partygoers, accusing them not only of displaying irresponsible and selfish behavior but of jeopardizing any chance for a return to campus in Spring 2021, too. 

The details of the dage are murky — combing through the dozens of replies and quoted tweets did not yield any specifics. It’s unclear when or where exactly the event took place, or what fraternity, if any, is responsible. 

In fact, the pictures might have been taken at completely different locations on different days, suggesting that this might be a relatively regular occurrence in New Brunswick. What can be gauged, albeit only roughly so, is the attendance — the second picture, easily the more concerning of the two, shows approximately 80 or so people.

As of today, a week since the pictures were posted, Rutgers has not addressed the tweet so it is unclear if an investigation has been launched or whether any action will be taken.  

A quick visit to The Yard @ College Avenue, where students have returned to studying with friends and families to watching movies on the video board, reflects a significantly greater degree of comfort navigating the outside world than the ghost town that the College Avenue campus had been transformed into when lockdown was first announced back in March. 

Although these relaxed times have brought back some semblance of normalcy, social distancing is still expected. Given that the activity on the Yard is restrained to separate groups, who generally maintain a 6-feet distance from each other and wear masks when walking to other destinations, the risks posed by such activity do not compare to those demonstrated in the pictures. 

Outdoor gatherings are limited to 500 people, excluding political and religious outdoor events which do not face any such restrictions under the First Amendment, according to the official site of the NJ Government.

The second picture in the tweet displays approximately five times less than this considerable number. But, the site maintains that social distancing must be practiced, a measure that was glaringly absent in both pictures.

Furthermore, facial masks are required during outdoor gatherings “if social distancing is difficult to maintain.” But as both pictures suggest, a Bring Your Own Mask rule was not imposed by the party throwers. 

It’s worth exploring why so many students feel comfortable attending events that do not practice any social distancing measures. Approximately 55 people within the 18-29 age group in New Jersey died after contracting the virus, representing only 0.4% of all people within this particular age range to contract COVID-19, according to a report last updated in late July.

This is just less than a tenth of the statistics for deaths recorded for the following age group, ranging from ages 30 to 49, and an even smaller fraction of those reported among older age groups, particularly those aged 80 and older, who are the most vulnerable. 

These statistics may create a sense of invincibility that emboldens students to attend such parties, but many COVID-19 survivors within the same age group experience continued suffering that has manifested in various ways: weakened memory and concentration, difficulty speaking and breathing, permanent lung damage, fatigue, loss of taste and smell and soreness have all been reported by different survivors. 

The virus does not simply pass from one’s system — it can leave a range of lingering effects, many of which appear to be permanent. 

Being a considerably contagious virus, it’s also important to explore the potential implications that these parties could have on the wider New Brunswick community, should they become a regular occurrence if they aren’t already. The 2010 Census reported that 15.5% of families and 25.8% of the city’s population were below the poverty line, most of whom are people of color. 

As such, access to health care is often incredibly difficult, compounded further by racial discrimination and language barriers.  

Chances of an in-person or hybrid spring semester have also been called into question. With COVID-19 on the rise across the country — including New Jersey — the prospect of a return to campus in spring is not particularly promising. 

If Rutgers is truly committed to making a return to in-person instruction again and protecting its students, it must address the contents of the tweet and come up with a plan to prevent similar high-risk events in the future.