To the editor:

I strongly support a city ordinance that makes it unlawful to disregard Douglas County’s health orders. I also strongly support the University of Kansas stepping up with bans, mandatory quarantine or suspensions, including holding the governing boards of sororities and fraternities responsible for lack of adherence to the county’s health orders.

On Sept. 16, 2020, the University of Missouri expelled two students and suspended three more for “willful and knowing actions” that violated MU’s coronavirus rules, such as gatherings of more than 20 students anywhere in Columbia, both on and off campus. If MU can enforce public health rules made to keep the entire population safe, surely KU and the City of Lawrence can get serious about requiring compliance with county public health orders.

And I don’t buy the argument that college-age students shouldn’t be held responsible for abiding by public health orders because their brains are not fully developed. Students attending KU are treated by the university as adults. They live apart from their families, drive cars, possibly hold a job and vote; it is not asking too much for them to be responsible citizens trying to keep all of us healthy during this pandemic.

Pat Kehde,

Lawrence