by Benjamin Reitman

University of Maryland students are no longer allowed to return to campus for the final three weeks of the fall semester after the administration previously stated students were allowed to return earlier in the fall semester, according to a campuswide email sent by  university President Darryll Pines earlier this month. 

Before the change in plans, Maryland was one of very few Big Ten schools letting their students return to campus after the holiday, but the decision has left students scrambling to move out of their dorms and find last minute flights or change already scheduled flights back home. 

Pines wrote that the administration decided to amend the university’s policies because  “the advent of colder weather with more of us spending more time indoors has led to increasing numbers of COVID-19 cases nationwide and here in Maryland.” 

Indiana University, University of Michigan and Penn State University – which are all a part of the Big Ten Conference like Maryland – are also requiring their students to stay off campus following Thanksgiving break and remain home until the start of the spring semester.

The Maryland Department of Health reported 2,168 new cases over the last 24 hours on Sunday. Since the pandemic began, there have been 4,279 confirmed deaths in the state. Last week, the university administered 6,074 tests on campus and 46 came back positive for a positivity rate of 0.8%. The university also received 11 self-reported positive cases for a total of 57 cases. 

Some students, especially those who live out of state, were displeased with the administration’s decision as many had already made plans to go home over break and  return to campus for the last three weeks of the semester. 

Brooke Orenstein, a freshman business major from Atlanta booked flights well in advance to go home for break and return for the final stretch of the first semester. But after the administration’s decision, Orenstein and her family will now be forced to pay for flight changes and cancellation fees.

“[It’s] extremely disappointing that the school told us one thing several weeks ago, and then changed their minds last minute,” Orenstein said.

Heather Bransfield, who’s from Long Island echoed Orenstein’s disappointment, adding she felt like students were deceived by the administration. 

“I was really excited when we were given the option to come back to campus after the holiday,” said Bransfield, a freshman psychology major. “It would have been better if UMD had decided from the beginning that we would not be allowed back on campus if we went home for the holiday.”

The university’s spring semester starts on Jan. 25, which means some students will be away from campus for about eight weeks. For Lauren Haffner, this is particularly troubling. 

She understands why the university decided to change its policy, but Haffner moved back to her home in Pittsburgh during the middle of the semester, which made it difficult for her to balance school work and safety. 

She made the tough decision to move back home for the “health and well being of herself, her family and her fellow UMD students.”

Featured photo: The Diner, along with all other dining services at the University of Maryland, will have limited hours over the break. Photo by Benjamin Reitman.