A University at Buffalo sophomore, who wishes to remain anonymous, knew her 2020-2021 academic year would be different.

But not like this.


What You Need To Know

  • Quarantined students have to order breakfast, lunch, and dinner by 10 a.m.
  • Food is delivered at 5 p.m. Breakfast and lunch goes in the fridge for the following day. If someone misses ordering deadline, they could not eat for a day and a half
  • Quarantined students, currently, only get two water bottles a day. Any extra are $2 each

"I didn't realize I needed to prepare rations for this," she joked.

She learned on Sunday that her friend tested positive for COVID-19. While she waits for her results, she was told to quarantine.  

"It was super rushed and panicky. None of them had super concrete info about what's happening," she explained. "I even forgot a fork, so I'm drinking noodles when I eat them."

The 30 students in the Goodyear Dorm, which currently holds all students in quarantine, are only allowed to order food from campus dining — and you have to order breakfast, lunch and dinner before 10 a.m.

If you miss the deadline, she says students can go without food for a day and a half.

"You're not even allowed to have a parent of a friend drop food off for you," explained another sophomore.

Dorms don't have microwaves — meaning students often have to improvise.

"My roommate was trying to heat up food with her hair dryer, and it did kind of work but it's so sad that she has to resort to that," explained another co-ed.

Students are also only given two water bottles a day.

"If we want extra, we have to pay $2 per water bottle," said a UB student.

A statement quarantined students received from UB staff said in part, "While the staff are there to help and deliver food from campus dining, we cannot provide service like a hotel."

And food service is limited campus dining because their delivery can be managed by hall staff.

There are issues aside from food options.

While there is toilet paper and paper towels, she said there isn't even hand soap.

The sophomore told Spectrum News many students agree that whoever organized the "quarantine dorms" were negligent.

"I asked if there was hand soap. They told me no, but offered me deodorant," said another student.

On Wednesday, Spectrum News spoke to UB's Director of Campus Life, Tim Tiberi. He said that hand soap and more water would be provided.

“We do encourage students to bring what they need for a two-week period, but we will do that," Tiberi noted.  

He also explained that testing is available for students — though not all students had to take a COVID-19 test before the academic year began.

UB is also looking into if a quarantined student's test comes back negative if the student can leave or still stay in quarantine for 14 days.