1 00:00:00,237 --> 00:00:01,470 Hi, everyone. 2 00:00:01,470 --> 00:00:05,899 As you have hopefully already heard, at the advice of our public health experts, we have 3 00:00:05,899 --> 00:00:10,470 lifted most of the the temporary restrictions that we put in place about ten days ago, and 4 00:00:10,470 --> 00:00:15,000 we have largely returned to the protocols in place at the beginning of the semester. 5 00:00:15,000 --> 00:00:20,130 This means, among other things, that in-person gatherings are allowed if there are no more 6 00:00:20,130 --> 00:00:26,430 than 6 people involved and that the IM-Rec facilities and the library will be open starting tomorrow. 7 00:00:26,430 --> 00:00:29,859 Full details are in the email sent out this morning to the community. 8 00:00:29,859 --> 00:00:33,160 I’m speaking to you now to say three brief things. 9 00:00:33,160 --> 00:00:35,410 First, thank you. 10 00:00:35,410 --> 00:00:39,550 Thank you for your sacrifice, especially over the last 10 days. 11 00:00:39,550 --> 00:00:45,220 Because of your collective efforts, our case numbers dropped from a high of more than 200 12 00:00:45,220 --> 00:00:49,290 new cases on February 16 to only 26 new cases on Wednesday. 13 00:00:49,290 --> 00:00:52,670 I know it wasn’t easy, especially for our students. 14 00:00:52,670 --> 00:00:57,330 I also know it that it can seem at times like these measures are intentionally punitive 15 00:00:57,330 --> 00:01:02,210 or harsh, but I promise they are public health measures, not punishment, and public health 16 00:01:02,210 --> 00:01:06,930 measures recommended by our public health experts, whose advice and recommendations 17 00:01:06,930 --> 00:01:09,640 we have been following from the beginning. 18 00:01:09,640 --> 00:01:16,409 We are all weary of this disease and how it’s changed our lives—faculty, staff, students, 19 00:01:16,409 --> 00:01:17,979 and parents alike. 20 00:01:17,979 --> 00:01:23,930 As the parent of two sons in college, I know this is getting old—really old--for everyone 21 00:01:23,930 --> 00:01:25,090 and that it remains hard. 22 00:01:25,090 --> 00:01:29,800 But I also know that the daily, smart decisions you have been making are working, and will 23 00:01:29,800 --> 00:01:31,340 continue to work. 24 00:01:31,340 --> 00:01:36,620 So to all of you, whether you are a living in Bonnycastle or Lambeth, on Grounds or off, 25 00:01:36,620 --> 00:01:41,740 whether you are a law student or a linguistics major, a second year or a fourth year, a master’s 26 00:01:41,740 --> 00:01:45,850 student or a doctoral student or anywhere in between, thank you. 27 00:01:45,850 --> 00:01:48,290 Second, this isn't over. 28 00:01:48,290 --> 00:01:51,030 We’re not yet in the clear when it comes to COVID. 29 00:01:51,030 --> 00:01:55,770 Our numbers are better, but we would like to see them remain at this level or lower 30 00:01:55,770 --> 00:02:00,330 over a longer period of time, so we can be more confident that we have contained the 31 00:02:00,330 --> 00:02:02,600 virus to manageable numbers. 32 00:02:02,600 --> 00:02:06,260 This is why we are keeping our public health measures from the beginning of the semester 33 00:02:06,260 --> 00:02:08,229 in place for the time being. 34 00:02:08,229 --> 00:02:13,640 If the trends we are seeing continue, we should be able to ease some of the current restrictions--and 35 00:02:13,640 --> 00:02:19,790 increase the limit on the size of gatherings, for example, or allow more fans to attend 36 00:02:19,790 --> 00:02:21,040 sporting events. 37 00:02:21,040 --> 00:02:24,330 So please: follow all the public health measures. 38 00:02:24,330 --> 00:02:27,060 Stay masked and physically distanced. 39 00:02:27,060 --> 00:02:30,819 If you are eating with someone indoors, please limit your group to 2. 40 00:02:30,819 --> 00:02:36,260 Do not gather in groups larger than six, and please do your best to stick with the same 41 00:02:36,260 --> 00:02:41,730 six-person pod or bubble as much as possible, and limit your contact with others outside 42 00:02:41,730 --> 00:02:48,190 that group, since mixing pods can spread the virus by increasing opportunities for transmission. 43 00:02:48,190 --> 00:02:52,780 Third, and finally, we can do this. 44 00:02:52,780 --> 00:02:58,060 I know that marathon analogies are overused, including by me, but they are hard to resist given that 45 00:02:58,060 --> 00:03:03,030 we are approaching our one-year anniversary with Covid on grounds. 46 00:03:03,030 --> 00:03:09,020 This moment feels, right now, like we have hit the 20-mile mark in a marathon. 47 00:03:09,020 --> 00:03:14,120 This is the point in a marathon where runners are not just physically tired, but mentally 48 00:03:14,120 --> 00:03:18,840 exhausted as well—it’s for both reasons that experienced marathoners often say the 49 00:03:18,840 --> 00:03:22,980 race really begins at mile 20. 50 00:03:22,980 --> 00:03:27,849 And so it is with us: We have come a long way, the end is not quite in sight but we 51 00:03:27,849 --> 00:03:29,700 know we are getting there. 52 00:03:29,700 --> 00:03:33,900 But most of us are also tired, physically and mentally. 53 00:03:33,900 --> 00:03:38,599 And when that happens, it is easy to be short-tempered, and it is easy to feel anxious about your 54 00:03:38,599 --> 00:03:41,520 ability to get to the finish line. 55 00:03:41,520 --> 00:03:48,650 Runners, at this point, can turn on each other and be harsh in those last six miles with others who get in their way, and they 56 00:03:48,650 --> 00:03:52,810 can also focus solely on their own needs and not think of others. 57 00:03:52,810 --> 00:03:57,569 I remember, with embarrassment, running in a marathon on a really hot day, and at about 58 00:03:57,569 --> 00:04:03,010 mile 22, I saw a young boy who looked like he was holding out a popsicle for me, so I 59 00:04:03,010 --> 00:04:04,099 grabbed it. 60 00:04:04,099 --> 00:04:09,340 As I did and ran away, I heard him say “Hey, that guy took my popsicle,” and I’m sorry 61 00:04:09,340 --> 00:04:12,090 to say I just kept running. 62 00:04:12,090 --> 00:04:17,147 You do come across other runners during this stretch who are much more admirable than I was 63 00:04:17,396 --> 00:04:23,440 The very best are those who, while obviously tired themselves, offer an encouraging word or two—like 64 00:04:23,440 --> 00:04:26,960 you have this, or we have this, or we can do this. 65 00:04:26,960 --> 00:04:31,460 These runners make you feel not just like you can do it, but that you are in it together—not 66 00:04:31,460 --> 00:04:36,470 just running your own race, but running as part of a community with a common goal of 67 00:04:36,470 --> 00:04:38,160 reaching the finish line. 68 00:04:38,160 --> 00:04:43,360 I urge you to remember that we are in this marathon together because we are part of the 69 00:04:43,360 --> 00:04:44,680 same community. 70 00:04:44,680 --> 00:04:49,500 When you are deciding, each day, whether to follow the public health protocols, I hope 71 00:04:49,500 --> 00:04:54,260 you will remember that failing to do so not only puts you and others at risk, but it also 72 00:04:54,260 --> 00:04:59,880 lets down those in the community who have been faithfully following the protocols day in and day out. 73 00:04:59,880 --> 00:05:04,370 At the same time, innocent and honest mistakes have been made and will likely continue to 74 00:05:04,370 --> 00:05:08,160 be made, and these deserve our grace and compassion. 75 00:05:08,160 --> 00:05:13,380 More generally and finally, I would urge all of us to summon the strength to finish what we’ve 76 00:05:13,380 --> 00:05:18,259 started and to do what we can to bring out the best in others—because that’s the 77 00:05:18,259 --> 00:05:21,360 only way we will get to the finish line together. 78 00:05:21,360 --> 00:05:23,781 We can do this. Thank you.