Green: UNL Ready on COVID; Will Fix if NCAA Rules Broken

Aug. 20, 2021, midnight ·

University of Nebraska-Lincoln campus
University of Nebraska-Lincoln campus (Photo courtesy University Communications)

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University of Nebraska-Lincoln Chancellor Ronnie Green says he’s confident the school is well-positioned to handle COVID-19 as students return to classes next week. And Green says if the football program violated any NCAA rules, the situation will be fixed.

Green said as of Thursday, more than 14,000 returning students had been tested, and less than half a percent tested positive for COVID-19. “We’re quite pleased. You know, obviously we’d like to see zero in those numbers, but quite pleased with those low, at this point, transmission of COVID-19. Of course we’re isolating and going through all of the protocols for those who test positive to protect the community,” Green said.

Green said the university has identified those types of classes where students will be required to wear masks, for example lab sections, studio and performance classes where they will be close together and interacting. Masks may also be required in other classes where a student or faculty member requests it because they have family members who are unable to be vaccinated. And he said the school is in constant contact with the local health department and could institute additional measures if the situation demands it.

Green had little new to say regarding the NCAA investigation of the football program over alleged violations including improper use of analysts and consultants. But he said while he doesn’t want to defend any potential violation, the pandemic has been confusing for everyone, including athletic departments.

“This last year was confusing in a lot of ways, you know. Chaotic, I guess is the right way to say it. But if there was a violation of rules in the NCAA that are there for a particular reason, and for a good reason, and we were in violation of those rules, we need to fix it,” he said.

The Huskers open the season August 28th on the road against Illinois.