Emma Innes
Staff writer
Marion County has been [moved back] to the [“extreme risk”] category for COVID-19, causing changes to campus rules. Commencement has been moved online and indoor dining is no longer available at Goudy Commons. Restrictions will officially take effect Friday, April 30.
Oregon Governor Kate Brown had [previously] stated that Marion and 11 other counties would be moved to “extreme risk” if state hospitalizations reached 300. On Monday, Oregon [reported] 319 hospilizations and [fifteen] counties will move to “extreme risk”.
Despite restrictions not going into effect until Friday, an [announcement] in the April 28 Today@Willamette said indoor dining would be gone immediately. Tables are already lined up in Goudy Commons to block entrance to the dining area.
The Commencement Planning Committee (CPC) sent out an email to the community at 10:51 a.m. on April 28 to announce that in-person commencement is cancelled and will be replaced by a virtual ceremony. CPC acknowledged commencement is a highlight of the academic year, and the decision will bring disappointment for graduating students. The CPC said they requested an exemption from the state but that it was denied. The email ended with the CPC telling the Class of 2021 that the community takes pride in their achievements, no matter the format they celebrate them in. All commencement ceremonies will be on Sunday, May 16 with Atkinson Graduate School of Management at 9:00 a.m., the College of Law at 11:30 a.m. and the College of Arts and Sciences at 2:30 p.m. Links will be shared shortly.