Duke blames fraternities for virus spike on campus, threatens sanctions

Thirty-two students tested positive for the virus on Tuesday, the highest one-day total at Duke during the pandemic, officials said. Between last Friday and Tuesday, 102 positive tests among students were reported.

"The majority of students in this group either have a known Greek affiliation and/or are first-year male students in the Class of 2024," officials said in a statement. "Many of these cases are connected to the off-campus rush activities and parties hosted by individuals connected to Durham Interfraternity Council, which includes Greek organizations that have recently severed their affiliations with Duke."

Authorities are investigating the fraternities' actions, as Duke limits all student gatherings to 10 people both indoors and outdoors.

Officials warned students not to "host, attend, or participate in any in-person rush events, on or off-campus, whether or not the group is affiliated with Duke."

"Individuals and groups that violate Duke and Durham public health guidance are also subject to disciplinary action. Students found responsible for hosting off-campus events or other flagrant violations of The Duke Compact may face serious sanctions up to and including suspension and/or expulsion," officials said, noting that some "multi-semester suspensions" have already been handed down.

Duke warning: Students might have to remain in their rooms if virus trends don't improve

Officials said any student who left the area must quarantine upon returning until they have two negative coronavirus tests.

"The return-to-campus sequester requirement is firm, and failure to adhere may result in loss of campus privileges or suspension from the university," officials said.

If the campus continues to see a rising number of virus infections on campus, officials said they may have to enact tighter restrictions, such as nightly curfews, limiting student movement on campus, ending in-person courses or canceling planned activities.

"[W]e ask the entire student community to renew its commitment to our collective goal of looking out for each other and completing our semester on campus," officials said. "In a year of loss, let’s come together to ensure that our seniors can complete their time at Duke without additional interruption and that the campus community can get through a hard-fought year without wholly preventable and dangerous setbacks."