Dear Mines students,

President’s Day Break is almost here and we hope you’re making plans to have some fun and get some much-deserved rest and relaxation. That’s why we’re writing you today: to make a quick request that no matter where those plans take you next weekend, you keep COVID-19 safety in mind.

We’re not asking you skip your trip home to visit family and friends – although SAIL and Campus Rec. have a ton of fun activities planned on campus all weekend. Rather, we just ask you to be mindful of your actions, activities and interactions, because the decisions we each make over the coming days will impact all of us, our friends and our campus community.

And even though a vaccine is coming and college-age students aren’t a high-risk group, it’s not enough to do nothing. Orediggers look out for their fellow Orediggers, and we all need to do our part to protect those around us who are more vulnerable to this virus. It could be a floormate, a member of your study group, a TA, a staff member or a professor – the thing is, almost a year into this pandemic, we still don’t know why the impact is strong on some but not on others.

So, no matter where your plans take you over President’s Day Break, here are six things we ask that you do:

  1. Maintain at least six feet of social distance from anyone who isn’t a member of your immediate household.
  2. Always wear a face mask when in public or around people you don’t live with.  And layer up – masks with multiple layers of cloth are best.
  3. Avoid in-person gatherings with people you don’t live with. “People you live with” means roommates and housemates here, not residence hall floormates. If you are going to gather, outdoors is best and the fewer people the better.
  4. Think twice about ridesharing. Planning on driving up to the ski slopes with your roommates? Have fun! Carpooling there with four friends who live in four different residence halls? Consider driving in separate vehicles instead. If you do choose to share a ride, wear a face mask the whole time, open the car windows, keep the middle seat open and wash/sanitize your hands before and after the ride.
  5. Wash your hands frequently with soap and water. Not near a sink? Use hand sanitizer with at least 60 percent alcohol.
  6. Get tested regularly. If you have travel plans (even just within Colorado), get tested for FREE on campus 2-3 days before your departure date so you have your results back before you leave. And then get tested again when you get back to campus. Make your appointments now at https://www.primarybio.com/a/mines.

Sticking around Golden is a great choice as well!

We encourage all students to stay around Golden over the long weekend. Campus will be open, including Mines Market, Periodic Table, Student Center, Arthur Lakes Library and the Student Rec Center.  And remember those fun activities we mentioned earlier? Visit the SAIL and Student Rec Center websites for a full schedule:

Please visit the Mines Dining website for hours of operations for Mines Market and the Periodic Table.

Take a break—but not from everything.  

Make the most of this break. Relax, recharge, and reconnect. But please do so safely. We’ll all be better off – and safer – if you do.

Thanks everyone.  See you soon Orediggers!

Derek Morgan, Ph.D.

Dean of Students