In a time where bars are flooded with smiling, mask-less faces, Indiana University - Bloomington should do everything in its power to make sure that in-person gatherings are not reduced to decadence and hedonism.

Should a class house 50 or less students, each wearing a mask and maintaining a distance equal to 6 feet (per CDC guidelines), then it is every student's right to be able to attend said class in-person. For those who are unable (e.g. international students), a live recording of lectures and an integration of all classwork into a file-sharing medium of the lecturer's choice shall provide adequate education to those who choose to attend remotely. These changes can be adequately prepared in time for Spring 2021.

Indiana University - Bloomington has handled the COVID-19 pandemic with great caution and preparation thus far. This trend should continue onward into 2021 with the integration of more choice in the student's preferred method of education.

Concessions and Rebuttals:

• Opening lectures to gatherings of 50 will lead to a spike in cases.

"For the week of October 18, the mitigation testing COVID-19 positivity rate was 0.83% across all campuses (compared to 0.84% the week prior)... The positivity rate among the 745 test results from communal living (Greek houses) was 2% (1.5% the week prior)" -https://covid.iu.edu/dashboards/bloomington

Greek Life, even with its consistent and blatant disregard for social distancing, is managing a positivity rate hovering under 2%. It is reasonable to assume that congregations of equal size which adhere closely to CDC guidelines will be unlikely to spike up to a 2% test positivity rate.

• Opening lectures to gatherings of 50 will lead to a growing apathy towards a global pandemic.

Indiana University - Bloomington has the capability to require students to test negative for COVID-19 before entering an in-person lecture hall.

• Opening lectures is a slippery slope toward crowds tens of thousands in number, all of whom are capable of collectively rejecting social distancing.

Indiana University - Bloomington has the capability to require attendees to test negative for COVID-19 in the 48 hours prior to entering an in-person gathering.

***If the readers of this petition should take away anything from these writings, it is that a university should facilitate, not restrict, choice. Although the Dean of one particular school is mentioned, those who sign this petition are willing and able to bring forth the issue to the Deans of their respective schools.***