College Officials Stressing Students Must Obey COVID-19 Rules Or Face The Consequences

(BLOOMINGTON) – Indiana University officials are stressing to students they need to take COVID-19 seriously or face the consequences.

University officials have confirmed that dozens of students who participated at parties after IU’s big football win over Michigan last Saturday are facing that unpleasant reality, of being suspended after they violated campus rules that ban parties and large social gatherings as a way to limit the spread of COVID-19.

The action came after numerous photos and videos were posted on social media.

IU Media Relations Director Chuck Carney says the school is not looking to punish students, but to keep the community safe.

“These gathering violated city and county regulations as well as our own guidelines and endangered the health of the IU community,” IU officials tweeted.

Now that students will travel home for Thanksgiving break, IU is offering free “departure testing” for students and staff, starting Nov. 15. Students, faculty  and staff can register online to get a test on campus. The results come back in about 24 hours.

In West Lafayette, the Indianapolis Star reported 36 Purdue students were suspended for attending a Wednesday night party that violated guidelines. The cooperative house where the party took place was also suspended. Those rules had been in place for less than 24 hours.

“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,” Katie Sermersheim, Purdue’s dean of students, said in a statement released by the university.