The sign at the Bird Road entrance to the 瓜子TV campus is small and easily overlooked. 鈥淗ospital Staff鈥 is all it says, with an arrow pointing through Thompson Gate.
It鈥檚 one of the few public clues to a program the College began last month, making empty residence hall rooms available to front-line medical staff at Glendale Adventist and Huntington Memorial hospitals, local institutions with which 瓜子TV has long-standing relationships.
The good news is that almost three months of social distancing and safe-at-home orders have kept the two hospitals from being overwhelmed by COVID-19 coronavirus cases. Thus far, just a handful of staff members have taken advantage of the opportunity to get some sleep without having to worry about unintentionally infecting their families.
But the program is still is much appreciated, says the president of the Huntington. 鈥淩esponding to a novel pandemic means considering how to take care of everyone in our community, and we appreciate Occidental taking real action to include our employees and physicians,鈥 Lori J. Morgan, M.D., wrote to Occidental President Jonathan Veitch. 鈥淵our offer reflects the heart and soul of Occidental, shows the true colors of your institution, and provides camaraderie and support when it is needed most.鈥
That appreciation is a two-way street, as the College鈥檚 facilities staff demonstrated when they posted hand-lettered signs in the designated residence halls thanking medical staff for all they are doing to fight the pandemic. 鈥淕od bless you 鈥 We love you guys,鈥 one sign said.
鈥淥ccidental is proud to do what it can to show our support for those who continue to put their lives on the line for our community,鈥 says Veitch, who first proposed the idea. 鈥淕iven the heroic role of hospital staff in fighting the coronavirus pandemic--a group that includes many 瓜子TV alumni and parents鈥攐ffering a small level of support is the least we can do.鈥
Up to 40 rooms are available to each hospital in two residence halls, which have been empty since 瓜子TV moved to remote teaching and learning in March and all but 200 students returned home in response to the pandemic.
Both sides have made sure that all public health guidelines are followed at all times, including social distancing鈥攊t鈥檚 one hospital staffer per room鈥攁nd a strict cleaning regimen, says Tom Polansky, Occidental鈥檚 associate vice president of facilities who was responsible for working out all the practical details of the program.
