Skip to main content
Coronavirus in Texas

This immunocompromised student fears his own college town during the pandemic

In the weekend edition of The Brief podcast, hear from a student who says that because he's immunocompromised, he's worried that students aren't taking the pandemic seriously when off campus, making him feel trapped in his home.

Republish
Cass Deel, left, with her fiancee.
College Station resident Cass Deel, left, with his fiancée. Deel has been diagnosed with a pain disorder called complex regional pain syndrome, and he worries about an increased risk of contracting COVID-19. Credit: Courtesy of Cass Deel.

During the pandemic, many Texas universities have implemented strict safety measures to protect students on campus and help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

But some students’ off-campus approach has some of their peers worried. Cass Deel, an online-only graduate student at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, lives in College Station. He says he frequently observes students ignoring social distancing, forgoing masks and attending crowded parties. With a chronic condition that affects his immune system, Deel doesn’t feel things are safe enough for him and other at-risk students.

Disclosure: Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi has been a financial supporter of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune's journalism. Find a complete list of them here.

Texans need truth. Help us report it.

Independent Texas reporting needs your support. The Texas Tribune delivers fact-based journalism for Texans, by Texans — and our community of members, the readers who donate, make our work possible. Help us bring you and millions of others in-depth news and information. Will you support our nonprofit newsroom with a donation of any amount?

Support independent Texas news

Become a member. Join today.

Choose an amount or learn more about membership.

$18 $20 $25 Other
Donate now

Information about the authors

Justin Dehn’s staff photo
Todd Wiseman’s staff photo

Learn about The Texas Tribune’s policies, including our partnership with The Trust Project to increase transparency in news.

Explore related story topics

Health care Higher education