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It's a real shame that so many people can now not attend an indoor winter sports competition at Lock Haven University because so many people have ignored the school's policy on wearing masks to protect themselves and others, including our student-athletes.
The announcement that attendance at all home athletic competitions will be restricted to participating student-athletes, coaches, officials, athletic administration and the essential personnel required to host the event is very unfortunate, but not a surprise.
No tickets will be sold, leaving season-ticket holders and other rabid Bald Eagle fans out in the cold at the height of winter sports competition.
Too many people coming to the events have outright ignored the university's stated policy on mask wearing.
We've received multiple correspondence from frustrated people upset over others' disregarding the policy.
Indeed, at the match on Jan. 21 our estimate is that only about 10% of attendees were wearing masks as the university politely asked at the door via signage.
The next night the mask-wearing rate went up to only about 50 percent even though LHU placed security at the door trying to enforce the policy.
Alas, not enough compliance penalizes the general public from attending exciting sporting events on campus to celebrate and support local student-athletes.
The university was very clear as to why it's imposing the restrictions: "This change to the spectator policy is a direct result of continued disregard for the university's masking policy at recent indoor competitions. It is being instituted to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and give LHU student-athletes the best chance at completing their seasons without further postponements and cancellations. It comes as over a dozen PSAC competitions have been postponed or canceled in recent weeks due to the spread of COVID-19."
There was no announced timetable for the return of spectators to LHU indoor athletic competitions.
University officials said they'll "continue to monitor the situation over the coming weeks, and will provide updates if and when changes occur."
They reminded fans that all remaining basketball games and wrestling dual meets this season are available to watch for free online at www.GoLHU.com via the PSAC Sports Digital Network: https://psacsportsdigitalnetwork.com/golhu/.
We're really not surprised considering we live in an area where there continues to be rampant spread of the virus.
Still less than half of Clinton Countians are fully vaccinated as we enter year three of the pandemic.
Yes, it's a shame so many people think only of themselves.