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St. Bonaventure suspends 28 students for COVID-19 violations

Posted at 4:50 PM, Sep 06, 2020
and last updated 2020-09-07 15:42:50-04

ALLEGANY, N.Y. (WKBW) — St. Bonaventure University reports 28 students have been issued an interim suspension for violating COVID-19 health and safety protocols.

According to the university, a large party was held at the Garden Apartments, on campus, on Saturday. The party violates the visitor restriction and social distancing policies.

“I was hoping we could avoid the missteps other colleges have made,” said Dr. Dennis R. DePerro, university president. “I want to be clear that I still believe the vast majority of our students have been doing and continue to do what’s necessary to give us the best chance to stay in session until Thanksgiving. That’s why this is so upsetting,” DePerro said. “These students prioritized their own self interests over the collective interests of their classmates and the campus community.”

The students are required to turn in their keys and ID cards and leave campus by 7 p.m. Sunday, according to the university. The students will remain enrolled in classes but are not able to attend in person until the “judicial and appeal processes are concluded.”

During the suspension, students are denied access to the entire campus and any school-sponsored functions.

Hearings are expected to be conducted this week.