Purdue suspended 36 students on Wednesday, Tim Doty, the university’s director of public information and problem management, told CNN on Friday.
“Purdue University has been clear and consistent with our messages to students about the Protect Purdue Plan and the expectations they will have to follow when making the decision to be on campus this fall,” Drs. Katie Sermersheim, associate vice provost and dean of students, said in a statement to CNN.
Sermersheim said Purdue asked students to hold large gatherings in confined spaces until the “pandemic can be better understood and controlled.”
“Unfortunately, everything we have done – the months of plans to give our students the opportunity to personally continue their educational endeavors – can be undone – with only one party or event that does not follow rules and guidelines,” Sermersheim explained.
Under the school’s current procedures, Doty said the organization holding the party and the students attending could appeal the interim suspension. The final sanction decision will be made after a full hearing process, Doty said.
Violations of the Protect Purdue Plan will be added to the regulatory code regulations, the school said in a news release. This means that students who violate the code may be subject to disciplinary action.
“If you do not abide by rules, there is no place for you here,” Sermersheim said.
On Friday, Purdue announced its plan for continued oversight and testing of its nearly 40,000 students. According to the plan, all staff on campus will undergo mandatory weekly tests and randomized tests will take place for all students throughout the semester.
Classes at the university are scheduled to begin on Monday.
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