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With Students Back In Town, University Officials Try To Mitigate COVID-19's Spread

Mairead Todd / KOSU
Some stairs at Oklahoma State University have been designated as either "Up Only" or "Down Only."

As colleges across Oklahoma kickoff their fall semesters, risky behavior among students has already caused some concern.

A shaky cellphone video found on social media and filmed inside a Stillwater bar shows students drinking and dancing without masks and with little regard for social distancing.

The video and https://youtu.be/QSNA9UWANe0" target="_blank">others, as well as reports of nearly two dozen cases of the coronavirus in a single sorority caused Oklahoma State University President Burns Hargis to release a statement Monday asking students not to party and to remain socially distant.

"Attending large dance parties where neither mask wearing nor social distancing occurred showed a clear disregard for the protocols set forth by both the university and the city of Stillwater," Hargis said.

In Norman, the University of Oklahoma suspended all in-person Greek recruitment activities after reports of unsanctioned gatherings of students there. Fraternity and sorority recruitment activities were moved online.

Colleges and universities have struggled with coming back in-person this fall. On Monday, the University of North Carolina moved all of its undergraduate classes online following a spike in cases on campus.

Robby Korth joined KOSU as its news director in November 2022.
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