Ever since pausing in-person classes in March, LSU has been actively working to stop the spread of COVID-19 on campus. Numerous on-campus pods allow students to receive a test at their own convenience. Each student received a mask at no-cost and Zoom classes have become the new norm. Researchers on campus are even paving the way for water waste testing at dorms and other buildings frequented by students. In unprecedented times, LSU is doing their part to make this year as safe as possible.
One major step taken by administration is the daily symptom tracker. This online survey was announced in an August 3 email detailing how the tracker would work among other campus safety procedures. Through this survey sent through the university's Qualtrics system, students and faculty can track any coronavirus-related symptoms and utilize contact tracing for any positive cases reported through the university. The survey takes under a minute with only a few questions. Every morning it is delivered via email or SMS text, and after logging in through their myLSU portal students can track how they are feeling and if they have recently received a COVID-19 test. Upon completion, students receive an email stating if they are approved to come to campus and a QR code.
While efficient, this system is by no means foolproof. There is no formal accountability system for whether or not the tracker is filled out, and the QR code is never scanned upon arrival to campus. LSU's Emergency Operations Center was unavailable to comment on just how many of the 30,000 students enrolled in classes fill out the tracker.
"My only issue with it is, it's really easy to lie about. I mean there's no accountability for whether or not you actually did get tested or didn't get tested or you're actually experiencing symptoms," said junior Ethan Lauvray. Even though he filled out his daily survey before being interviewed, the lack of accountability for how a student responds is a major concern.
Students who may not have to report to campus still are reminded every day to track their symptoms and get on-campus approval. Senior Alexandra Larsen opted to stay home in Centennial, CO this semester as she is at greater risk for catching COVID-19. She reached out to the Emergency Operations Center to be removed from the mailing list but was told this wasn't possible.
"It’s ridiculous that I get multiple emails a day prompting me to fill out the symptom tracker when I am 1000 miles away, with no plan to return to campus anytime soon, doing all my coursework online. My positive or negative status is irrelevant to LSU. It’s a minor inconvenience at worst to be receiving these emails but a waste of resources at best, especially when it isn’t enforced that students who are on campus fill it out daily."
Despite its flaws, the tracker is effective to keep track of any potential symptoms. When a student reports a positive test through the university, any other students they report as being in contact with are alerted and asked to stay home that day. Numbers are down in East Baton Rouge Parish, and the tracker along with social distancing and mandatory mask usage on campus has been a major part of that decline.