I am sure you’re sick of hearing about COVID-19. I am too. But, as an immunocompromised person, the virus poses a major risk to me as compared to my peers.

We have all seen posts on Facebook and Twitter talking about how we don’t need to worry about the virus because the flu has killed more people, or because car accidents kill more people, or because something else has killed more people.

Just because there are fewer stabbing deaths in the world than gun deaths doesn’t mean I’m going to ignore someone who is threatening me with a knife. That would be a stupid thing to do.

The novel coronavirus that originated in Wuhan, China at the end of 2019 has a 3.4 percent death rate, and influenza has a 0.1% death rate. That is a huge distinction.

I’m not saying we shouldn’t be worried about the flu, either. Please, I implore you, get your flu shot, wash your hands and stay home if you are sick, even if there isn’t a pandemic occurring at that point in time.

Covid-19 is scary because scientists are constantly learning about how the virus works. No vaccine is available yet, and there are still a lot of questions about transmission.

What we do know, however, is that the virus affects the elderly and those who already have health issues much more than the typical healthy college student.

On March 10, Chancellor James Schmidt spoke to the University Senate about the university’s plans going forward with the COVID-19 outbreak. In the meeting, he joked about how the virus was more likely to affect faculty than students and continuously dismissed the threat to students.

By saying that COVID-19 isn’t that big of a deal because it only affects the elderly and the sick — a sentiment I have seen far and wide from my family, friends, classmates and strangers online — you are saying that my life doesn’t matter.

The elderly and immunocompromised are not expendable. Our lives are not worthless.

On March 11, Schmidt sent an email to faculty, staff, and students announcing the university’s coronavirus plan. The email said the university is not suspending in-person instruction, but rather suspending the attendance policy.

In suspending the attendance policy, the chancellor essentially did nothing. I will still be required to show up to my classes or risk failing.

I am not asking to suspend face-to-face instruction for the rest of the semester. In fact, I don’t want that. I want to be able to finish out this semester. However, limiting social interaction is the best way to avoid getting sick.

If my peers get sick, it is likely that they will still come to class. If they had COVID-19, they likely wouldn’t have the thousands of dollars to get tested for it.

Especially after coming back from spring break, there is no way to ensure the health and safety of students on campus by merely discouraging them from traveling and telling them they don’t have to come to class.

My health and safety are on the line, but so is my education.

I shouldn’t have to decide between coming to class and potentially getting sick or staying home and safe but potentially having my grades slip. That’s not a decision I — or anyone else on this campus — should have to make.

The university has shown that it isn’t taking this pandemic seriously and that it isn’t looking out for its students.

Kelley can be reached at [email protected].