An Unheard Community: Rutgers University’s Reopening and Its Impact in New Brunswick
Dominique Hazel-Criss
With Covid-19 causing the world to take a pause for a year, many schools and jobs in the country managed to continue on in a virtual setting. Once the Covid-19 vaccine was released, these institutions decided that they would reopen in the coming months. To combat the spread of Covid-19, schools like Rutgers University required all students to be vaccinated in order to return. That mandate, however, did not apply to faculty and staff, and students were allowed an exemption for medical or religious reasons. With over 50,000 students enrolled for the 2021–2022 academic year, safety concerns lingered.
One community that had not seemed to be mentioned in Rutgers reopening plans were the people living in New Brunswick. This community, primarily consisting of racial and ethnic minorities, had their own unique challenges during the Covid-19 pandemic.
According to TapInto, New Brunswick had one of the lowest vaccination rates prior to August 2021. As of May 2021, only 36% of its residents were vaccinated. With thousands of vaccinated students returning for the fall semester in August, many of whom live in off-campus housing in this city, vaccination rates skyrocketed. The Covid-19 vaccination rate for all of New Brunswick shot up to over 70%.
While the population increased, along with the number of vaccinated residents, Covid-19 rates for the city of New Brunswick did not experience a major increase.
Rutgers’ vaccination mandate has seemed to keep the Covid-19 rates at bay in the New Brunswick community, according to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital medical staff.
Ariyonna Wright, a patient monitor at RWJUH, has the responsibility of providing one on one constant observation for patients who are at high risk of potential harm or injury towards themselves due to confusion, suicidal ideation, or delirium. She notes that from April of 2020 to now, there has been a decrease of Covid-19 patients being admitted into critical care units.
“With students traveling to restaurants in the city, going back home on weekends, and being in highly crowded places such as football or basketball games, there’s the risk of a potential increase in Covid-19 cases,” said Wright. “But from what I’ve seen rates have remained stable and there has not been a dramatic increase.”
Clinical care technician Clarrisa Glassen noticed a similar trend in Covid-19 rates. Her unit treats Covid-19 patients who experience serious symptoms, but do not need to be put in the intensive care unit. Glassen explained that Covid-19 units began to close as a result of the decrease in Covid-19 around spring 2021.
“The fact that Rutgers is having most of their students get the vaccine has probably done a lot to hinder the spread of Covid-19 between students, but I think that an increase in infections overall is kind of inevitable,” Glassen shared. She maintained that with consideration of how big the increase of people in New Brunswick was, the Covid-19 rates were very stable.
Even though there has not been a substantial increase in Covid-19 rates since Rutgers reopened, that hasn’t done much to subside the fear and anxiety felt by New Brunswick residents.
New Brunswick Native Jose Santiago said his mother feared more students in the city could lead to increased Covid-19 rates.
“You get the off campus parties and a bunch of people on the block late at night and just people in our neighborhood that wouldn’t necessarily be there regularly,” he said.
Santiago, who is fully vaccinated, said his family was eager to get vaccinated. When asked if he felt that Rutgers had taken the well-being of his hometown into consideration, he responded with a firm no.
“I think the only thing that was taken into consideration was how much money Rutgers was losing in the pandemic and how they could best recoup their losses,” he said.
Maria Espinoza, a Rowan University student and native of the New Brunswick area, has had her own personal fears about the campus reopening. As a college student she explains the joy she felt getting to return to campus and getting vaccinated. But as a member of the New Brunswick community, with parents and other family members she lived with who were unvaccinated, she feared for the consequences reopening universities could have.
”My family didn’t get the shot and I don’t know a lot of people around here who did,” Espinoza said.
This fear isn’t only felt among the residents of New Brunswick. Community organizers like Lou Kimmel, of the New Brunswick based organization New Labor, felt a disregard toward the New Brunswick community during this transition. Kimmel said the university should set up an emergency fund for New Brunswick if and when a new pandemic arises, as a way for Rutgers to be there for the community it inhabits.
“Rutgers is basically one of the largest employers in New Brunswick,” he said. “They have a responsibility for the conditions of New Brunswick and the community at large.”
