To the editor:

Kansas is in the midst of a global pandemic; cases are rising since reopening. While some counties have few cases, people do not remain in one place. They travel. Everyone agrees that kids need to go back to school, but it is unwise to do so without careful planning, adequate safety precautions and while cases are increasing.

KU needs to make money. Athletic programs such as basketball will more than likely be postponed. That’s a huge financial loss. Making money is far less important than containing the coronavirus, preventing its spread and more deaths and not overburdening health care workers and hospitals. Reopening schools too soon may result in having to close them again.

It is hard on both children not attending school and parents unable to work without adequate child care. No one talks about how thousands of students from other states and abroad will affect permanent residents. Instructors, aides, staff, janitors, food service workers don’t want to get sick and pass it on to family members. While education is a driving force for most students, many go to college for the social life of partying, drinking and meeting people. Socializing is as much a part of KU as studying, but that is detrimental to public health now.

I dread having to interact with students who are unconcerned about catching the coronavirus or spreading it. Now is not the time to bring students back to campus in the midst of a pandemic that is flaring up around us.

Leslie J. Mills,

Lawrence