Spartan Daily Vol. 154, March 12, 2020

Science & Tech Don’t let the Senate erase free speech online

Sports

Editorial

Star sophomore guard takes inspiration from kicks

Students deserve transparency from SJSU on COVID-19

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Thursday, March 12, 2020

Volume 154 No. 22 SERVING SAN JOSE STATE UNIVERSITY SINCE 1934

COVID-19

A.S. talks travel bans, evaluations

WWW.SJSUNEWS.COM/SPARTAN_DAILY

COVID-19

By Christian Trujano NEWS EDITOR

The San Jose State Associated Students Board of Directors discussed conference travel bans for clubs and canceling teacher evaluations this semester during Wednesday’s meeting. Conference travel bans A.S. Vice President Zachary Birrer went over SJSU’s recent domestic and international travel bans and how recognized student organizations that were approved for conferences cannot go anymore because of the new coronavirus. “The school has specifically put a ban on that travel because they don’t want students to get infected or have any extra exposure to the coronavirus,” Birrer said. He said A.S. does not know how the previously approved funding for these conference trips will be used. Birrer said the board will meet to figure out how that money will be moved because it was approved for those specific purposes. “A lot of what is happening right now is up in the air just because we don’t have a full

A lot of what is happening right now is up in the air just because we don’t have a full understanding of the situation. Zachary Birrer A.S. vice president

understanding of the situation,” Birrer said. “We’re trying to adapt at this time.” Professor evaluations A.S. President Branden Parent said in light of classes suspended because of COVID-19, the SJSU Academic Senate unanimously voted to suspend the Student Opinion Teaching Evaluations for the Spring 2020 semester so that it does not affect faculty members’ tenure track. Parent said it is now up to SJSU President Mary Papazian to accept the suggestion. GIA PHAM | SPARTAN DAILY

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Rape alleged in campus dormitory UPD received report months after incident By Andrew Glenn STAFF WRITER

University Police Department officers are investigating an alleged rape that occurred last year at Joe West Hall, UPD Capt. Frank Belcastro said. The UPD report states that a police officer was dispatched to meet with the victim, a San Jose State student who said she was assaulted while in a drugged and unconscious state. The incident was reported to have happened sometime between October and December last year according to the UPD Daily Crime/Fire Log, but Belcastro said he could not give a specific date because UPD received multiple reports. “We do know the name

of the suspect and an investigation is ongoing,” Belcastro said. Because of the sensitive nature of the incident, the names of both the victim and the suspect have not been released at this time. Other details pertaining to the case are also being kept confidential. Belcastro said the victim is pressing charges and the case was sent to the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s office for evaluation because of the circumstances surrounding the incident. The suspect is a former SJSU student and is currently being investigated through the Title IX office.

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Janette Aguirre, a Santa Clara Kaiser Permanente floor nurse and SJSU alumna, stands alongside East Homestead Road Wednesday morning with a sign protesting the CDC’s new recommendations for medical staff, which some believe raise the risk of new coronavirus infections among medical staff.

Nurses slam CDC rules

Medical staff say they need more protection from virus By Mauricio La Plante ASST. NEWS EDITOR

More than a dozen medical staffers rallied in front of Kaiser Permanente Santa Clara Medical Center Wednesday morning to demand more protections from the new coronavirus. “We have had a number of patients come in who they didn’t think had the virus, and all of a sudden they did have the virus after they were tested,” said Sarah Fried, the chief nurse representative for the Kaiser Permanente Santa Clara Medical Center staff. “Many of our nurses weren’t wearing any protective gear when they took care of these patients.” The California Nurses Association, National Nurses Organizing Committee and National Nurses United made a joint announcement that their employers and the government need to provide more protection from the new coronavirus for the sick and those who care for them. The nursing organizations criticized the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for rolling back personal protective equipment standards for N95 respirators. The surgical masks are worn to protect people from airborne particles and contamination from liquid, as defined by the Food and Drug Administration. The organizations also protested the CDC’s decision to limit the use of negative pressure isolation rooms and weaken protections for workers

Many of our nurses weren’t wearing any protective gear when they took care of these patients. Sarah Fried chief nurse representative for the Kaiser Permanente Santa Clara Medical Center staff

collecting diagnostic samples. “Registered nurses are outraged to learn that the [CDC] on Tuesday further weakened its guidance on measures to contain COVID-19,” the organizations’ news release said. “These are moves that National Nurses United nurses say will gravely endanger nurses, health care workers, patients and our communities.” The CDC recommended that health care facilities ration N95 respirators by wearing the masks past their designated shelf life and reusing masks. Fried said this practice is harmful for patients and nurses. “The rationing of masks is very, very concerning. That’s one of our main protections against spreading anything to other patients,” Fried said. “We have cancer patients on my unit who have no immune system. So if they get infected with the virus, it’s very, very concerning.”

The three nursing organizations said the CDC should require negative pressure isolation rooms for patients potentially infected with new coronavirus because the rooms decrease transmission risk. “These negative pressure rooms are where all of the patients should be. These rooms suck the air out of the room up into the atmosphere. Regular rooms don’t do that,” Fried said. “So basically, the virus can stay in the room and that’s what can infect people.” Fried said Kaiser Permanente has fewer than 20 negative pressure rooms, which she believes is insufficient. “It’s concerning we don’t have enough rooms to put patients who might be positive with the coronavirus,” Fried said. Karl Sonkin, media relations representative for Kaiser Permanente Santa Clara, confirmed that Santa Clara has negative pressure rooms available, but could not disclose the number. Kaiser Permanente Northern California released a statement announcing that they engage weekly to air grievances from staff members and will do its diligence to keep employees safe. Ann Williamson, regional chief nurse executive for Kaiser Permanente Northern California, said they would follow advice from the state and the CDC moving forward. Follow Mauricio on Twitter @mslaplantenews