Dear Orediggers,
As I’ve left class and headed to my office – or circled campus on a run and then meandered home down Illinois Street – this week, the same thoughts keep returning again and again.
The first thought is “Thank you.”
Thank you for wearing those face masks in class, in the lab and in line, outside on your walks across campus and hikes up South Table Mountain, when you are playing spike-ball or relaxing on the commons, and during your trips to Safeway and businesses in downtown Golden.
Thank you also for taking that extra step back and speaking a little louder when meeting new and old friends on campus sidewalks, in hallways or your residence hall lobbies.
Everywhere I look I see Orediggers in masks and staying socially distanced and at least six feet apart – even outside. This last point is important because Jefferson County’s mask order requires masks even outside whenever we cannot maintain 6 feet of distance.
The second thought is a mixture of hope and pride – hope that we will be able to stay together this semester and pride in being part of a community that is doing what is needed to make that possible.
Am I surprised? No way. But that doesn’t diminish my appreciation.
Thank you for taking seriously the campus safety guidelines we’ve put in place, that our county and state require, and that scientists assure us will keep us safer, healthier and best of all, together. By doing so, your unselfish actions are protecting others and adding to the long list of evidence that our university is different, distinct and without peer.
And while the number of COVID-19 cases on our campus are much lower today than many other universities across the nation (see our dashboard here), we cannot let up now. If we want to stay together on campus this semester – and I know I do – this is just the beginning. Together, we must all remain committed to the promises we have made as Orediggers to keep our community and campus safe for the long haul.
I’m so grateful and needed to say so. Thank you so much. See you out there.
Go Orediggers!
PCJ