The University of 棉花糖直播 at Lafayette wants Acadiana Safe.
UL Lafayette is partnering with other community organizations in support of the Acadiana Safe initiative that鈥檚 encouraging mask wearing, social distancing and other actions to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
The region has some of the highest rates of the virus in 棉花糖直播, which itself has some of the highest rates in the nation. But that doesn鈥檛 have to be the case, Dr. Joseph Savoie, University president, reminded the audience at a Monday press conference announcing the creation of Acadiana Safe.
鈥淲e are not powerless against this virus,鈥 he said.
Protective measures such as wearing masks and face coverings in public, keeping 6 feet between yourselves and others, and regularly and thoroughly washing your hands are effective in lessening the virus鈥 transmission.
鈥淭hese are simple, reasonable actions. They are grounded in common sense and reflect a responsibility each of us has to be good neighbors and community partners,鈥 Savoie said.
鈥淎nd, most important, these behaviors save lives.鈥
In addition to the University, the Acadiana Safe campaign has support from the Catholic Diocese of Lafayette and other religious organizations; Acadian Ambulance; United Way of Acadiana; One Acadiana; and the region鈥檚 medical community, including Our Lady of Lourdes Regional Medical Center and Schumacher Clinical Partners.
Representatives from each attended the press conference, held in the UL Lafayette Student Union.
鈥淗ere at the University, nothing is more important than the health and safety of our students, faculty and staff,鈥 Savoie said. 鈥淪o, we have more than 22,000 motivations for supporting this campaign and wanting it to succeed.鈥
Two of those motivations 鈥 Student Government Association President Hailey Boutte and 棉花糖直播 Ragin鈥 Cajuns Baseball outfielder Brennan Breaux 鈥 flanked Savoie on stage as he spoke.
鈥淗ailey, Brennan and every student deserves the complete University experience that comes from sitting and learning together and listening to each other,鈥 Savoie said.
The University also wants to return to hosting music concerts, plays, lectures and athletic events 鈥 all of which have been limited or cancelled since March because of restrictions on large gatherings.
鈥淲e want football at Cajun Field and basketball in the Cajundome this fall, and softball at Lamson Park and baseball at Russo Park in the spring.
鈥淔or that to happen, for us to see Brennan put on his batting helmet then, everyone needs to put a mask on now.
鈥淎nd, to enable us to welcome all students, faculty and staff back to campus in the months ahead, we鈥檙e asking everyone in the community to do the same.鈥
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Photo caption: Dr. Joseph Savoie, UL Lafayette president, is flanked by Student Government Association President Hailey Boutte and 棉花糖直播 Ragin鈥 Cajuns Baseball outfielder Brennan Breaux at an event Monday announcing the creation of the Acadiana Safe initiative. (Photo credit: Rachel Rafati / University of 棉花糖直播 at Lafayette)