“One death is too many”: Davis Hunter administration, UNC-Charlotte SGA address App State student death from COVID-19

Emily Broyles, Reporter
October 10, 2020

UNC-Charlotte and App State Student Government Association’s are acknowledging the death of an App State student who died from COVID-19 complications Sept. 28.

Sophomore Chad Dorill was taken off life support after battling the virus for around two weeks. His death has made state and national news, being one of the few coronavirus deaths of a university student in the country.

The Davis-Hunter Administration released a statement on its Instagram account addressed to “fellow Mountaineers,” echoing Dorill’s family wishes of limiting in-person interaction, washing hands and wearing masks on and off campus.

“Our actions affect so many more people than ourselves, and it is important for us to remember that just because we cannot see the impact of our actions, they are still there,” the statement read.

SGA acknowledged Boone’s rising COVID-19 case count and said while young people can contract the virus and are at a lower risk, they are not immune.

“COVID-19 is not the flu, it is not a hoax… One death from COVID-19 is too many, and we have and will continue to work tirelessly to keep this campus as safe as possible by advocating and working alongside university administrators, Staff and Faculty senates, the Town of Boone, and off-campus businesses and landlords,” the statement read.

The Davis-Hunter Administration wrote that while “COVID-19 fatigue” has affected students, they encourage students to persevere and remain vigilant.

“We pride ourselves on creating a community and culture of care on this campus adn in this town, and we must continue in our efforts and pursuits to accomplish this, together,” the administration wrote.

UNC-Charlotte’s SGA also passed a resolution “expressing regret and sorrow at the passing of Mr. Chad Dorrill of Appalachian State University” Oct. 1.

“The Student Government Association wishes to express the sympathy of itself and the UNC Charlotte community to the Appalachian State University Community and Mr. Dorrill’s family,” according to the resolution.

The resolution was signed by Dick Beekman, President Pro Tempore of the Student Senate, and UNC-Charlotte student body president Tahlieah Sampson.

Leave a Comment

Donate to The Appalachian

$1371

$5000

Contributed

Our Goal

We hope you appreciate this article! Before you move on, our student staff wanted to ask if you would consider supporting The Appalachian's award-winning journalism. We are celebrating our 90th anniversary of The Appalachian in 2024!

We receive funding from the university, which helps us to compensate our students for the work they do for The Appalachian. However, the bulk of our operational expenses — from printing and website hosting to training and entering our work into competitions — is dependent upon advertising revenue and donations. We cannot exist without the financial and educational support of our fellow departments on campus, our local and regional businesses, and donations of money and time from alumni, parents, subscribers and friends.

Our journalism is produced to serve the public interest, both on campus and within the community. From anywhere in the world, readers can access our paywall-free journalism, through our website, through our email newsletter, and through our social media channels. Our supporters help to keep us editorially independent, user-friendly, and accessible to everyone.

If you can, please consider supporting us with a financial gift from $10. We appreciate your consideration and support of student journalism at Appalachian State University. If you prefer to make a tax-deductible donation, or if you would prefer to make a recurring monthly gift, please give to The Appalachian Student News Fund through the university here: https://securelb.imodules.com/s/1727/cg20/form.aspx?sid=1727&gid=2&pgid=392&cid=1011&dids=418.15&bledit=1&sort=1.

About the Writer