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Syracuse University COVID-19 Outbreak Threatens Businesses Syracuse University COVID-19 Outbreak Threatens Local Economy

If students are sent home, the local economy could suffer.

By Kyle Loughran

KYLE LOUGHRAN: Last week, Syracuse University had a COVID-19 outbreak from an off campus party. There are currently 96 positive cases on campus. Former Syracuse Grad Student Stephen Ogbolu thinks that if classes are forced to be cancelled, it will have a significant impact on the local economy.

STEPHEN OGBOLU: “It will have a negative impact on business. Syracuse University is made up of over 22,000 students. Imagine if over 22,000 students are putting their money in one business or the other right? On a daily basis, hourly basis. So it’s definitely going to have an impact on the economy in Syracuse.”

LOUGHRAN: Other Syracuse residents like Saurnthia Hauser feel the same way with many students supporting businesses downtown.

SAURNTHIA HAUSER: “Well it might, because a lot of the business comes from the students.”

LOUGHRAN: The outbreak comes around the same point in the semester that Parents Weekend would typically be held when many students see family. Syracuse student Jonathan Danilich thinks that in general, students have done a good job not going home to see their relatives.

JOHNATHAN DANILICH: “I haven’t seen anyone go home. I have seen parents come here. Not often, but I do know of someone who had their parents come here. For the most part, what I’m seeing is people just trying to get through it.”

LOUGHRAN: The University has set up an on-campus testing site for students at the Dome. Last Friday, Syracuse Vice Chancellor of Strategic Initiatives and Innovations J. Michael Haynie sent an email to students regarding the outbreak. In the email, he encouraged students to not travel away from Central New York while still following campus guidelines. He also said that the University believes they have taken the necessary steps to contain the outbreak, but they will continue to monitor future tests and make sure safety is their top priority. Kyle Loughran, NCC News.

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) — This past week, Syracuse University experienced a COVID-19 outbreak stemming from an off-campus party. There are now 96 positive cases on campus, and the uptick in cases has over 250 students in quarantine.

The increased number of cases on campus left some local residents concerned about the impact there could be on the local economy if the university is forced to close.

“It will have a negative impact on business,” said Stephen Ogbolu, Esq., the Sub-Saharan African Ambassador of the Syracuse College of Law, about how businesses could be affected if students end up being sent home for the semester.

“Syracuse University is made up of over 22,000 students,” Ogbolu said. “Imagine if over 22,000 students are putting their money in one business or the other on a daily basis. So it’s definitely going to have an impact on the economy in Syracuse.”

Another Syracuse resident, Saurnthia Hauser, said she often sees students shopping or going out for food in Armory Square in downtown Syracuse and agrees that if students are sent home, it would be problematic for businesses downtown.

“A lot of the business comes from the students,” Hauser said.

However, the university is hopeful that they can contain the spread of the virus on campus.

“We are cautiously optimistic that the quick and aggressive action we have taken has mitigated the potential for significant additional infection outside this cluster,” said Vice Chancellor of Strategic Initiatives and Innovations J. Michael Haynie in an email to students last Friday.

Syracuse student Jonathan Danilich said that he has noticed many students have been following the safety guidelines laid out by the university, including not traveling away from Central New York, but he has seen some exceptions.

“I haven’t seen anyone go home,” Danilich said. “I have seen parents come here. Not often, but I do know of someone who had their parents come here.”

Going forward, Danilich said he expects students to be more careful moving forward.

“I think that last week was a wakeup call for a lot of people that weren’t following the guidelines,” said Danilich. “I think things will be a little bit more serious now.”

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