BY KURT MARTONE, NEWS ASSIGNMENT EDITOR
As St. Bonaventure University contends with an increase in COVID-19 cases over the past week, several parties are considering preventative changes on campus. In a faculty senate meeting on Sept. 10, discussions were held over the topic of suggesting the university impose in-class mask mandates. Dr. Rene Hauser, associate professor of inclusive special education and Faculty Senate Chair, described the motivations behind the movement.
“Faculty, especially newer faculty who do not yet have tenure, are concerned that if they mandate mask wearing in their classrooms, that will negatively impact their course evaluations,” said Hauser. “The university places a lot of weight on course evaluations for tenure, so faculty do have cause to be concerned. This problem is further exacerbated when some faculty mandate mask wearing in the classroom and others do not.”
This debate comes in the wake of increased COVID-19 cases across Cattaraugus County. According to the New York Department of Health, the county had a 1% or lower weekly rolling average positive test rate throughout June and July of 2021, totaling about 96 cases over that span. This weekly rate jumped to around 3% in August and now rests around 7%, with 259 active cases as of Sept. 15. The university currently reports 17 active cases, with 10 recovered since June 1. According to the Cattaraugus County Health Department’s, 47% of the county has received the first dose of a vaccine and 85% of cases since Aug. 1 have been in unvaccinated individuals.
A Sept. 1 email sent through the university’s Notice Board that “strongly recommended” mask wearing in public also mentioned that five of the then six active COVID-19 cases on campus were breakthrough cases. It is unclear as of now whether this high rate of breakthrough cases has continued. The university’s Student Wellness Center did not respond to a request for comment about active COVID-19 cases.
Some students have expressed annoyance and distrust at the university’s recommendation of masks.
“I feel like it’s redundant honestly,” said Mason Mascato, a freshman broadcast journalism major. “I get that it’s meant to protect people, but we were forced to get an unregulated and untested vaccination, just to have the privilege of not wearing masks. I don’t think they’re trying to upset us if they mandate it, but I don’t believe any other mandates should be put into effect. Let people have a choice.”
James Rumschlag, a sophomore history major, emphasized his belief that mask mandates violate students’ freedom of privacy.
“Don’t force masks back on the people,” said Rumschlag.“Having the personal choice of wearing a mask does seem nice, but don’t judge those who choose not to wear one.”
Hauser emphasized that while the topic does have some support among faculty, any decisions ultimately rest with the university.
“I raised the issue of a mask mandate with both SGA and the faculty senate at the request of several faculty members who reached out to me with concerns,” said Hauser. “It is my duty as chair of the faculty senate to bring these issues to the table for discussion but as of now, no decisions have been made regarding a mask mandate, in the classroom or otherwise.”
martonkd18@bonaventure.edu
