Public Fairness AssessmentTM
Initiated by: N.D.

What do we do with college students during the COVID-19 pandemic?

Public verdict: Do what the Germans do. Fast, free, rapid-result testing and effective contact tracing. The minute one kid tests positive, everyone they've been in contact with is tested and sent home until the results come back. Unfortunately the US will not be able to do this as its response to COVID-19 has been completely bungled (and the CDC now recommends testing only if you have symptoms and not if you have been in contact with someone infected, which is a farce) but this is the ideal. First US university/school system to achieve "fast, free, rapid-result testing and effective contact tracing" wins my undying support.
17 jurors voted to form this verdict and were awarded 340 RHU. Check your balance to see if you qualified. Log in
Case description
During the COVID-19 pandemic the University of North Carolina (and many other universities) have waffled on bringing students back to campus.

There are clear benefits to on-campus learning. Many feel the instruction is better and that the on-campus experience is a critical component of a college education, and accounts for much of the value of a degree. Furthermore, the absence of students from campus has significant financial ramifications for the university and surrounding local economy. Given this the UNC system decided to bring students back to campus, with encouraged social distancing, limited class size, and guidance on mask wearing.

However, in the past three days since students returned to UNC (before classes have even started) there have already been numerous cluster of COVID-19 on campus in the dorms, as well as reports of large parties and poor adherence to social distancing and mask wearing guidance. This has prompted concern from the local community and UNC faculty. What is the best solution moving forward?
58 total voters
How the public voted
Verdict
17 votes
"Do what the Germans do. Fast, free, rapid-result testing and effective contact tracing. The minute one kid tests positive, everyone they've been in contact with is tested and sent home until the results come back. Unfortunately the US will not be able to do this as its response to COVID-19 has been completely bungled (and the CDC now recommends testing only if you have symptoms and not if you have been in contact with someone infected, which is a farce) but this is the ideal. First US university/school system to achieve "fast, free, rapid-result testing and effective contact tracing" wins my undying support."
15 votes
"College students should be given a very strict set of rules, and anyone caught violating them should be immediately suspended and sent home. Those rules should include sticking to campus for most needs, instead of endangering the local community by heading to local coffee shops etc. rather than to the many on-campus options. Mature, community-oriented students who understand that it is not all about THEM should not be penalized because of the selfish idiots who just want to party and who don't understand that this is not forever."
15 votes
"Studying from home is a better solution for now, students are irresponsible human in this case,they can't adhere to rules and regulations in place."
10 votes
"In-person classes should be suspended until a vaccine is approved. My sympathies to college students, but too many of them are immature and reckless. We cannot afford to keep feeding this virus."
See who voted: 3 jury categories.View more

What happens next

Disputing parties will be invited to resolve the matter based on this public verdict. If the parties have agreed beforehand to use the results to arbitrate the case the verdict will be binding. If not, the results are nonbinding but can be used as input to guide further negotiation. Depending on the case, results may be distributed to other interested parties such as regulators and media.