Cancellations hit Eastern in wake of COVID-19

Staff Report

Spring Concert

The Spring Concert has been canceled following a new policy restricting gatherings on campus of more than 50 people.

The reveal for the concert was originally planned for Wednesday but was postponed as the university addressed the COVID-19 pandemic.

Black Student Reunion

The 2020 Black Student Reunion is planning to reschedule its original weekend to a later date.

For those already registered, there will be an option to refund the money or to transfer their payment for the new date.

Currently a date has not been selected, but the Office of Inclusion and Academic Engagement is working to reschedule.

Greek Week

Greek Week has been canceled along with many Greek life events.

Fraternities and sororities are not to have any social events, philanthropies, fundraisers or community service events.

The Greek Life Office advised Greek organizations to check with their national organizations for additional restrictions not covered by Eastern’s restrictions.

The DEN

The Daily Eastern News will not have a physical newspaper during the upcoming two weeks of spring break.

Articles will be published online during the second week to update the campus community and The News will resume printing March 30 for the remainder of the semester.

News Watch

WEIU News Watch will not have a newscast over the first week of spring break.

They will continue broadcast on March 23 with coverage of local news, sports and weather.

Newscasts are weeknights at 5:30 p.m.

EIU Comic Con

EIU Comic Con has been canceled following health and safety concerns regarding the COVID-19 outbreak.

The event was originally scheduled for March 28 and was the first at the university.

There has been no announced plan to reschedule the event.

Spring Break Closings

Residence halls and Greek Court will close at 8 p.m. on Friday and re-open March 22 at 1 p.m.

The University Food Court will be closed during that time. Dining halls will close at 6 p.m. Friday.

Though on-campus living will be open to students on March 22, no one will be required to return the campus if they live in residence halls or Greek Court.

Students may stay on campus during the second week of spring break.

Doudna Fine Arts Center

“Hedy! The Life and Inventions of Hedy Lamarr” will be the last performance of the school year at the Doudna Fine Arts Center. All other performances have been canceled because of the COVID-19 outbreak.

Dan Crews, the interim director of programming for Doudna, said the Center will comply with Eastern’s guidelines to cancel all events expected to be attended by 50 or more people and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines. Therefore, all scheduled performances are canceled.

The cancelations include: Charleston High School’s musical Mary Poppins, the EIU Dancers’ Spring Performances, the HOPE You Got Talent fundraiser and the new CLAS Spring Fest.

Crews said the bottom line in making these decisions is keeping people safe.

Intramurals

All intramurals at Eastern will be suspended until the end of the school year in response to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Intramurals assistant director Kevin Linker said: “Sadly intramurals are part of the mandatory cancellations. Suspended indefinitely until further notice.”

The News Staff can be reached at 581-2812 or at [email protected].