Syracuse University is taking some heat in the press due to world famous photojournalist Michel du Cille. Michel du Cille was recently in Liberia to cover the Ebola outbreak, and was supposed to go to the college to talk about "what it was like covering this public-health crisis" but the University cancelled do to the possible threat of Ebola.

The Washington Post is reporting that since du Cille returned from Liberia, he has been following the proper monitoring guidelines recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This included: avoiding any potentially infectious contact with people, taking his temperature very often and watching for any symptoms during the 21-day period when it is generally accepted that Ebola symptoms, if they show up, are going to show up". He was extremely shocked, and angry, when the school cancelled him:

I am disappointed in the level of journalism at Syracuse, and I am angry that they missed a great teaching opportunity. Instead they have decided to jump in with the mass hysteria.

The university’s decision was not an easy one, and they defend it with the following statement:

Well, in a column posted Friday afternoon, Lorraine Branham, dean of the Newhouse school, explained the choice thusly:

It was not a decision that we made lightly and we certainly understood that in doing so we opened ourselves to criticism about stoking fears among the public and spreading ignorance about the disease and how it is spread. This is not what you want to do as the dean of a premiere journalism school. But concern for our students, faculty and staff outweighs any concern I have about how this decision will be viewed by others.

Everyone agrees that there was probably a very small risk to our students. Still, our health experts suggested an “abundance of caution” and we decided to take that advice. I was unwilling to take ANY risk where our students are concerned."

Do you agree with the school's decision?

 

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