In Denmark, the Rarest of Sights: Classrooms Full of Students

LOGUMKLOSTER, Denmark — The cluster of red brick buildings in a remote part of southern Denmark looks unremarkable from the outside, but this week, its classrooms housed some of the rarest people during the pandemic in today’s Europe.

Schoolchildren.

On Wednesday, 350 pupils returned to classes at the Logumkloster District School for the first time in a month, as Denmark became the first country in the Western world to reopen its elementary schools since the start of the coronavirus pandemic. It has turned the Danish education system into a laboratory for whether and how schools can function in an age of contagion.

“It is a new world,” said Tanja Linnet, the school’s head teacher, as pupils arrived early on Thursday morning. “We used to make plans for if there was a terrorist attack here — but never this kind of attack.”

Other European countries have also gently eased restrictions on certain businesses and sporting activities in recent days.

But by allowing hundreds of children to congregate once again at thousands of schools across Denmark, the government has taken the boldest step toward something resembling normal life, in a measure that will be watched carefully around the world.

“That’s the dilemma of the whole world,” said Finn Christensen, the school’s deputy head. “When to open up?”

Denmark’s approach contrasts with that of Spain, where most children have not been outside in five weeks. With more coronavirus infections than any other country in Europe, Spain forbids children to even take a short walk on the street or exercise near their homes.

For the children at the Logumkloster District School, their return was often simply an exciting experience, after a month cooped up at home. “It is so nice to see my best friend again!” said Maja Petersen, a 7-year-old first grader coloring the red bits of the Danish flag.

To stop the spread of infection, parents weren’t allowed inside. Teachers couldn’t gather in the staff room. The children each now had their own desks, marooned two yards away from their nearest neighbor. During recess, they could play only in small groups. And by the time the school shut again at 2 p.m., they had all washed their hands at least once an hour for the past six hours.

“We usually jump and hug and fight and give each other high fives,” said Zakarias Al-Tibi, 10, pointing dolefully at his best friend, Jannik. “But we can’t do that any more.”

From an economic perspective, the argument for reopening schools is straightforward. It allows parents who are employed to focus more on their work, said Carl-Johan Dalsgaard, a professor of economics who is one of the four leaders of an independent body that provides economic advice to Danish policymakers.

“You are dramatically less efficient when you have to home-school your children and take care of them every day,” Professor Dalsgaard said.

The World Health Organization has cautioned countries like Denmark against reopening their societies too quickly for fear of reviving the pandemic before it is properly stamped out. The number of active cases in Denmark has dipped in recent days (it has recorded more than 6,870, with 321 deaths), and it has a far lower reported death rate than many countries in Europe. But death statistics can be incomplete during an outbreak, and disease experts warn the pace of new cases can easily pick up again.

Elsewhere in Denmark, these concerns led some parents to create Facebook groups protesting the reopening of schools, fearing their children were being sacrificed to save the Danish economy.

In the village of Logumkloster, where there have been no known victims of the virus, only a few parents decided against sending their children back to school. But several were conflicted about it.

“Our first reaction was: Isn’t it too early?” said Cynthia Paulsen, a cleaner whose 14-year-old son, Arthur, was among those requested to return this week. “Is this the right thing?”

Jesper Bendig initially opted against returning his 7-year-old, Noah. Mr. Bendig had no work to return to, having lost his job as a recovery driver at the start of the crisis. What if Noah passed the virus to his younger brother, who has kidney problems?

But by and large, parents at Logumkloster have been won over by the careful way that Ms. Linnet, the head teacher, and her staff have refitted the school at just a few frantic days’ notice.

The school’s floors have been covered with new markings, showing pupils how far apart they have to stand. Hand-washing has become a part of the school routine — the first stop for all pupils at the start of every day, and then on the hour thereafter. Tea ladies have the new task of touring the school with disinfectant, cleaning each door handle at least twice during school hours.

These changes have been guided by the government, but the government’s instructions have sometimes changed on an hourly basis. “Sometimes, we get an order at 9, and then at 10 we get a new one,” said Mr. Christensen, the deputy head.

And it’s unclear how long these emergency measures will last. “Is it for a week or two, or a month or two?” Ms. Linnet asked. “We don’t know.”

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Freshman at University of Arizona sues fraternity 'for making him exercise on broken glass, abusing him with anti-Semitic slurs, beating him and splashing hot sauce in his eye as part of hazing ritual'

A former freshman at the University of Arizona is suing the college, the Arizona Board of Regents, Theta Chi Fraternity and more than a dozen fraternity chapter leaders, claiming he was subjected to brutal hazing involving broken glass and hot sauce, which left him with infections.

Hayden Roletter, 20, from California, filed a 33-page complaint against the defendants last week, alleging negligence, battery, assault, intentional infliction of emotional distress and a violation of Title IX protections for students, and seeking $1million in damages.

According to the lawsuit, Roletter enrolled in the University of Arizona as a freshman in 2018 and the following spring pledged the Theta Chi's fraternity chapter on campus, known as Beta Iota.

His complaint, obtained by Courthouse News, alleges that 13 chapter officers and existing members subjected him and the other pledges to 'physical abuse... threats of violence, forced calisthenics, degrading and anti-Semitic verbal abuse, acts of servitude, forced interviews, prevention and deprivation of sleep and study time, and other conduct threatening the health and safety...'

The court filing describes in detail a fraternity meeting that took place on the night of April 12, 2019, during which Roletter was allegedly forced to exercise on broken glass and foul-smelling trash, was beaten, forced to eat hot sauce and had his phone taken away.

According to the complaint, in the midst of the 'hazing,' fraternity member Tyler Austin filled a shot glass with El Yucateco Habanero Sauce and splashed it in Roletter's eyes from inches away, causing the pledge to scream in pain and drop to the ground.

The hot sauce has a rating of over 5,000 units on the Scoville scale, which measures the spiciness of chili peppers.  

The lawsuit contends that the fraternity members failed to seek medical help for Roletter's injuries and carried on with the hazing acts - including exercises on broken glass and trash - after he was forced to leave the bathroom, where he spent 15 minutes rinsing out his burning eyes.

As a result of his treatment at the hands of the fraternity members, according to the complaint, Roletter suffered infections in his blood and eyes, blurry vision, scarring, and cuts to his palms and elbows requiring medical attention.

On top of his physical injuries, the California native also 'suffered emotional distress, mental anguish, anxiety, depression, embarrassment and fear of retaliation by other fraternity members,' the complaint alleges.

In the wake of the April incident, Roletter never completed his freshman year at UA because of his injuries, and also out of fear for his safety. He later transferred to another college. 

According to the lawsuit, the constitution and bylaws of Theta Chi state that 'the Fraternity prohibits all physical hazing, paddling, uncalled-for humiliation and public display in connection with Pledge education and pre-initiatory activities.'

In 2015, UA's chapter of Theta Chi was banned from campus for four years over hazing violations in which pledges were struck with paddles during initiation activities. 

Just months after the April incident, in November 2019, the University of Arizona and Theta Chi revoked the Beta Iota chapter's recognition and shut it down after receiving credible reports of hazing.

The loss of recognition is effective through May 2025.

The University of Arizona and the Arizona Board of Regents are being sued for violating Title IX, which states: 'No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.'

According to the complaint, UA and the Board had knowledge of the 'dangerous and serious risks facing male students seeking to participate in the educational opportunities and benefits the University provided through Greek life.'

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This university is offering credit for learning to play Dungeons and Dragons

A new course at a Vermont college will teach students how to play the popular tabletop game Dungeons and Dragons for credit.
The professor behind the project touts the "social" benefits of learning the game.

Castleton University in Vermont is offering college credit to students for learning how to play Dungeons and Dragons.

Greg Engel, an assistant professor in the Psychology Department, will pilot a virtual course on how to play the popular tabletop game.

“There is strong evidence of the benefits of having healthy recreation opportunities. It’s something that isn’t built into our society. Making time for hobbies can help reduce stress, improve health, and performance in other areas, such as family, work and school,” Engel reasoned.

But the class will reportedly be simply on how to play the game rather than the game’s supposed psychological Importance.

“Dungeons and Dragons promotes critical thinking and problem-solving skills that are transferrable to students' future academic work and their lives outside of the classroom. Learning to identify different ways to approach a problem is valuable for students who wish to enter the workforce or continue their studies in graduate school,” Engel told Campus Reform

He also explained that the game is “useful for creating communities and positive social interactions, which are known to improve student success.” Engel said that the goal of the one-credit course is to “help to create a greater sense of community on campus,” reasoning that “there is evidence of improved outcomes for students who have a sense of belonging and have connected with others on campus.”

Students at Castleton are divided over whether offering this class for academic credit is a good idea.

Delaney Whitehead, a sophomore Kinesiology major says “if enough people enjoy it or want to learn about it, why not put it towards academic credit. There are music and art classes that go towards academic credit.”

But others see the class as a waste of resources.

Amber Kimball, a sophomore health science major told Campus Reform that “I personally don’t think it should be [for credit]. I feel like it wouldn’t help us for ‘reality’.' There’s no real purpose for it. Sure, on your free time, but playing a game and getting credit doesn’t make sense to me.”

Another student Phil Kluge, a sophomore Sports Management and History Major, told Campus Reform that his school offering classes not related at all to academics lessens the value of his college education.

“I personally want a degree that is valuable and giving credit to classes like that would take credibility away from the school and the value of every degree that is being handed out at Castleton University. If you do that for a credit, you could also start FIFA or CS: Go classes and that really doesn’t have anything to do anymore with a valuable academic education,” he added.

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