On August 15, Roanoke College made the risk of moving in the class of 2024, in hopes that other students could join in the coming weeks. During this weekend though, countless off-campus parties were held even though those hosting knew the college's policies and regulations in order to maintain a successful opening this semester.

One week later, 15 students tested positive for Coronavirus and 40 other students have been contact-traced and are in quarantine. Most of these cases were traced back to off-campus parties.

The Roanoke College student body demands that Roanoke College takes action and suspends these students that were hosting parties over these last few weekends. While not every party may have ended up with a positive case, the students hosting these parties knowingly put the Roanoke College community as well as the greater community of Salem and Roanoke at risk by hosting these events. 

While some of these students await hearings, all students that are linked to hosting the party should be suspended immediately and for the remainder of the semester.  Students rely on Roanoke College in order to be successful in courses, for living and dining, for work, and most importantly for support. However, if we continue to let these students be part of this community they are only further putting students at risk and are taking away opportunities for students who need to be on campus in order to have a successful semester.

Stop waiting and act now. These students do not deserve a second chance when the rules were so clearly laid out and they still decided to put lives at risk.