By David Kunin

Students this week struggled to stay healthy. Sore throats and stomach viruses plagued St. Lawrence, forcing many to stay home in bed. The coughing and sniffling heard during lectures has been undeniable. It took three weeks, but the SLU plague has finally made its way back to campus. Laurentians beware.

“We are seeing several students presenting with sore throat, runny nose, congestion and the stomach bug,” said Erin Casey, Physician Assistant at the St. Lawrence Health & Counseling Center. “We seem to see an influx of students presenting illnesses at the start of the semesters and after breaks.” Casey additionally emphasized the importance of hand washing, covering your cough and throwing used tissues in the trash.

College campuses are typically a haven for infectious germs and bacteria. It is also difficult to prevent the spread of an illness once it is contracted, as students live close together, share bathrooms, and are constantly coming in contact with materials handled by other students.

Sleep deprivation is also a contributing factor. According to WebMD, it is recommended that adults get seven to nine hours of sleep per night. However, a study conducted by the University of Georgia found that college students typically sleep just six hours a night. Accumulated sleep debt over time can weaken one’s immune system and increase the likelihood of getting sick.

In terms of social-life, drinking games like flip-cup and beer-pong practically ensure that someone else’s germs will end up in your late night beverage. Sanitation has yet to become a house rule. Asking for a rip of someone’s Juul all but speeds up the sickness contracting process. “I have no problem with people ripping my Juul,” said Jackson Meyer ’19, a casual “Juuler” who was forced to stay in last weekend as he battled the stomach bug. “If anybody ever asks for a rip I usually just give it to them.” Perhaps both sides of the Juul rip exchange are accountable for contributing to the spread of illness.

There are simple measures we can all take to become a more healthy community. Wash your hands, strive for an earlier bedtime, and maybe even consider using clean solo cups for drinking games. Keeping your Juul to yourself also helps. There are obviously other ways to prevent illnesses, but these steps can easily stop the spread of infectious disease. As I write this article from the deathbed of my quarantined dorm room, I regret not taking these precautions sooner.