Three things for March 26
1. Conn to announce no return to campus
In a Thursday morning radio interview, Dr. Paul Conn told Mix 104.1 WCLE he will announce after the chapel livestream that Lee will not return to campus to finish the spring semester.
“I’m going to be talking to our students through Zoom and Facebook live at 11:20 (a.m.) today,” Conn said. “What I’m going to have to tell them is that we are not going to be able to resume on April 13.”
Conn said this is what he believes is right for Lee’s circumstances and noted Lee will continue to conduct classes online via Zoom for the remainder of the semester.
“We just can’t [come back] and guarantee the health and safety of our students and of their families, so we have to do the responsible thing,” Conn said. “We’re all having to make our own decisions about this and if there’s ever a time to give one another grace, it’s now.”
2. Senate reaches agreement on $2 trillion COVID-19 relief package
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell announced early on March 25 Republicans and Democrats finally reached an agreement on a $2 trillion COVID-19 relief package.
The Senate is expected to vote on and pass the stimulus package within the next couple of days. Senators have been under pressure from the American public to pass a bill in response to the health and economic crisis caused by the pandemic. Many citizens have been laid off, worried about how they will afford next month’s rent and groceries.
The stimulus package would include direct payments of $1,200 to $2,400 to American individuals and families that qualify. The stimulus package would also allocate over $360 billion to small businesses in the form of loans and grants. Other funds will go toward relief for key American industry leaders that have been affected by the pandemic.
3. New Zealand mosque shooter changes plea to guilty
The shooter behind the New Zealand Christchurch massacre changed his plea to guilty on Wednesday. The admission of guilt comes a little over a year after the gunman, 29-year-old Brenton Harrison Tarrant, opened fire on worshipers at two Christchurch mosques.
Tarrant, motivated by white supremacy, took 51 lives during his rampage last March. He is charged with 51 counts of murder, 40 counts of attempted murder, and one count of terrorism. Before this attack, Tarrant published a 74-page manifesto online outlining his hateful views.
The admission of guilt is a relief to families of the victims and all those who thought that Tarrant might use the trial to promote his ideology.
