Seton Hall community reacts to insurrection at Capitol; Nyre calls for reflection, perspective
President Donald Trump’s efforts to overturn the results of November’s election came to a violent crescendo on Wednesday when a pro-Trump mob staged an insurrection at the U.S. Capitol following a rally outside the White House, where the President continued to spread misinformation about the 2020 election. Five deaths have been connected to Wednesday’s violence at the Capitol, including a woman who was shot by police as rioters...
Seton Hall says it will continue in-person instruction for spring semester, will not include a spring break
Seton Hall will again reopen for Hybrid Flexible or “HyFlex” instruction in January, according to an email on Thursday from the Health Information Communication Team (HICT) that outlined testing and quarantine protocols for the spring semester. The clarified plans come two months after the University initially announced its intention to continue the HyFlex modality into the spring. “Caution tape hangs from a tree while the...
Governor declares state of emergency as New Jersey braces for major winter storm
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy declared a state of emergency Wednesday morning ahead of a major winter storm that is forecast to sweep through much of the northeast in the evening, bringing heavy snow, sleet and high winds. The state of emergency will become effective at 2 p.m. on Wednesday and will give first responders the power to close roads, commandeer equipment and resources and evacuate homes. Additionally, Murphy announced...
New Jersey administers first coronavirus vaccinations, college students may have to wait ‘many weeks’
After months of uncertainty, New Jersey took its first, albeit small, step towards ending the coronavirus pandemic on Tuesday as the state began administering Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine to frontline health care workers just days after it was approved for emergency use by the Food and Drug Administration. Maritza Beniquez, a 56-year-old emergency room nurse, was the first New Jerseyan to receive the vaccine Tuesday morning at...
New Jersey preparing to receive first doses of Pfizer’s coronavirus vaccine, Murphy says
New Jersey hospitals are preparing to begin receiving the first shipments of Pfizer’s coronavirus vaccine as soon as the Food and Drug Administration grants an emergency use authorization to the company, Gov. Phil Murphy announced in a press conference on Friday. According to Murphy, the state is anticipating that the first distribution will include 76,000 doses of the vaccine following clearance by the FDA, with additional...
Murphy discourages interstate travel, denies lockdown ‘rumors’
Gov. Phil Murphy discouraged New Jersey residents from engaging in non-essential interstate travel at a press conference held on Wednesday, citing an elevated risk of COVID-19 spread nationwide. The announcement comes after the state scrapped its travel advisory list after every state except for Hawaii qualified for a 14-day quarantine. “Given the increased risk of spreading COVID-19 for both residents who travel outside the state and...
Newark lockdown comes to an end as case positivity rate decreases
Newark has reached the end of its 10-day lockdown advised by Mayor Ras Baraka on Dec. 4 as the city’s case positivity rate decreased following a recent spike in cases. Baraka announced the lockdown on Nov. 19, urging Newark residents to shelter in place and remain inside their homes as much as possible from Nov. 25 through Dec. 4. Essex County, where Newark is located, transformed Seton Hall’s campus into a COVID-19...
Seton Hall to celebrate Christmas season virtually
Seton Hall will celebrate the holiday season much differently this year as a result of the pandemic, with Christmas at the Hall, the University’s annual Christmas celebration, remaining virtual to mitigate the spread of the virus. On Nov. 13, Father Colin Kay, alongside President Joseph Nyre, blessed the University Christmas Tree, which will remain lit throughout the holiday season. However, other holiday...
South Orange Village seeks participation in vote for new logo
The Village of South Orange is looking for participation in a survey to help decide on a new logo for the community. The chosen design will be featured on official South Orange documents as well as signage throughout the town. The two design options that South Orange will decide between. On the left is option 1, and on the right is option 2. An online survey was created by the Village government to gauge the popularity of two...
Newark implements new restrictions as COVID-19 cases surge
Newark Mayor Ras Baraka announced new curfews, gathering limits and symptom-tracking protocols for businesses on Nov. 9 as cases continue to spike in the city. Newark Mayor Ras Baraka raises restrictions as COVID-19 cases continue to rise (Photo via WCTC AM) The new procedures have been in effect since Tuesday. Baraka made the announcement in a video posted to Facebook and addressed why the procedures in Newark are stricter than the...
University plans in-person commencements for Class of 2020
The Seton Hall University Class of 2020 will have three in-person commencement ceremonies this spring, the Provost’s office announced in an email to graduates on Thursday. Provost announced three commencement ceremonies in April for Class of 2020 (Photo by Jillian Cancela) Each of the three ceremonies plans to accommodate 115 graduates, who are allowed two guests each, Provost Katia Passerini said. Baccalaureate, master’s and doctoral...
Murphy orders new restrictions, may ‘shut everything down’ as COVID-19 cases hit record highs
New Jersey will lower its limit on indoor and outdoor gatherings after a weekend of record-setting COVID-19 numbers, Gov. Phil Murphy said on Monday. Private indoor gatherings will be limited to 10 people, down from 25, and outdoor gatherings will be capped at 150 people. The changes come after the state reported its highest COVID-19 increases since the pandemic began. On Sunday, the state reported its largest single-day increase yet,...