Yesterday, after multiple cases of coronavirus were identified in Cuyahoga County, Miami University and Dayton University announced that classes would be suspended through April.
Miami University announced that face-to-face classes would be suspended but housing and dining would remain open.
Beginning March 11, 2020, @MiamiUniversity is suspending face-to-face instruction. Courses will be delivered by remote instruction through at least April 12, 2020. Residence, dining, and all campus services will remain open. For more info, visit https://t.co/geteyFhrUk.
— Miami University (@miamiuniversity) March 10, 2020
After the announcement about the suspension of classes at Miami University, lines at the local liquor store in Oxford, Ohio, were wrapped around the store.
Images of kids getting ready to party upon the news of suspended classroom activities, leave many parents wondering if there is truly a benefit to shutting down classes only days before spring break?
Lots of quarantining happening here in Oxford pic.twitter.com/2fMvDfAxwu
— Barstool MiamiU (@BarstoolMiamiU) March 10, 2020
The University of Dayton announced they would suspending classes and housing would be closing by 6 pm on the same day.
UD housing will close at 6 pm March 11. If you are approved for an extended stay or housing over spring break, you are permitted to stay. Students should take any items necessary to continue their education from home as well as other essential items in case time away is extended.
— University of Dayton (@univofdayton) March 10, 2020
At around midnight, a massive group of students gathered together on Lowes Street, the center of where most off-campus housing is located for what appeared to be a massive party. The University of Dayton put out a public statement explaining the situation and how Dayton Police were called in to disperse the crowd:
“A large disorderly crowd that grew to more than 1,000 people gathered on Lowes Street starting around 11 p.m., throwing objects and bottles in the street and at police, and jumping on cars. Police gave verbal orders to disperse which were ignored. Police initially launched pepper balls, which contain powder with an irritant that disperses quickly, that were unsuccessful in reducing the crowd size. About 2:15 a.m., UD police and additional Dayton police again gave orders to disperse and moved to clear the street, which was effective in dispersing the crowd quickly. At least one person was reportedly injured by a thrown bottle.”
Flyer News shared multiple videos of the massive group of students who gathered on Lowes Street.
UD students gathered in large crowds on Lowes Street in the South Student Neighborhood Tuesday night in reaction to the news that university housing would close Wednesday for most students due to the spread of the coronavirus. pic.twitter.com/82XL9uCR04
— Flyer News (@FlyerNews) March 11, 2020
We've got a statement from university officials: "A large disorderly crowd that grew to more than 1,000 people gathered on Lowes Street starting around 11 p.m., throwing objects and bottles in the street and at police, and jumping on cars…
— Flyer News (@FlyerNews) March 11, 2020
One student bragged about how “tear gas” allegedly used by law enforcement to break up the crowd, “can’t stop us.”
Tear gas can’t stop us. Go Flyers. pic.twitter.com/WZz6z4Olci
— Grant Kelly (@GrantKelly07) March 11, 2020
One student reported that students were seen vomiting from the tear gas allegedly being shot at students.
https://twitter.com/FlyerNews/status/1237597995589197824?s=20
After reports of “tear gas” being used on students to disperse the crowds were being widely circulated on social media, University officials announced that pepper balls that “contain powder with an irritant that disperses quickly,” was used by law enforcement.
UD police announcement ordering any student still outside to disperse pic.twitter.com/i5GhbXihhf
— Flyer News (@FlyerNews) March 11, 2020
The video below shows what appears to be police moving down the street.
We have video of police officers shooting what appears to be non-lethal weapons at students. pic.twitter.com/kgSasTUtC6
— Flyer News (@FlyerNews) March 11, 2020
Police remained stationed in front of houses to keep kids from congregating again.
Officers remain on Lowes pic.twitter.com/21XFK0sCLH
— Flyer News (@FlyerNews) March 11, 2020
This person’s tweet explains how they feel sorry for law enforcement officers who’ve all been potentially exposed to coronavirus after they were forced to deal with “a bunch of ‘educated’ hoodlums.”
God bless law enforcement. They really got called out there in the middle of the night because a bunch of "educated" hoodlums couldn't wrap their violent pea brains around basic virus protection. Now they've all been exposed too. I hope our police are receiving testing.
— ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ (@Nerdiac) March 11, 2020
Is there anything more comforting than knowing these kids represent the future of our country?