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Texas college students form alliance to combat campus spread of COVID-19

Pandemic ‘is our generation’s defining moment,’ says SMU student body vice president who organized the alliance.

AUSTIN — Southern Methodist University student body vice president Austin Hickle was preparing for his 9 a.m., in-person class Wednesday as he explained that COVID-19 is the big challenge for his generation.

Hickle, a junior from Lubbock who is majoring in political science and business, served on SMU’s Academic Continuity Subcommittee over the summer as educators and students planned what the fall semester would look like. That was the moment, Hickle said, that he saw the significant role students must play in order for schools to successfully open their doors during a pandemic.

“By serving on the committee, I saw the role that students have to play for a sustainable reopening of our school,” he said. “So I immediately started looking at how I can really have an impact, not only on this committee, but statewide — because not only would I like SMU to stay open, I would like all schools to have a semester that is worthy for their students.”

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In June, Hickle started reaching out to the student body presidents of every school in Texas he could find.

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Austin Hickle, student body vice president at Southern Methodist University, who organized...
Austin Hickle, student body vice president at Southern Methodist University, who organized the new College Health Alliance of Texas.(Courtesy)

Two months later, he is joined by student leaders from 20 Texas colleges and universities who have launched the College Health Alliance of Texas (CHAT), a public health initiative that aims to raise student awareness to combat spread of COVID-19 on campuses.

“This COVID-19 pandemic is one of our generation’s defining moments,” Hickle said. “We are really trying to be transparent and communicate that we control our future, and we control the continuity of education.”

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CHAT now has 35 members, many of whom serve as student body president at their respective school. Other schools represented include Baylor, Dallas Baptist University, the University of North Texas, Rice, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, the University of Houston, the University of Texas at Austin and UT-Dallas.

The alliance plans to publish a student-written guide for fellow students. It will not only include the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s coronavirus safety recommendations but provide mental health checklists. Hickle said the guide will highlight ways to make the most of a semester during a pandemic and suggest activities that comply with CDC guidelines.

“Our collective actions will dictate how this semester works,” said Texas Tech student body vice president Faisal Al-Hummond. “It will ultimately come down to our engagement in best health and safety practices.”

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The alliance launched as many colleges and universities across the state, such as SMU, are moving forward with various versions of hybrid classes. Hickle said two of his classes are fully remote but three courses alternate from in-person to remote learning week to week.

CHAT also is working on a statewide student survey — an attempt to receive feedback about students’ thoughts and concerns at their respective schools. After the alliance completes the survey, it plans to release the results and discuss them with local and state officials.

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