BY JAMES RUMSCHLAG, CONTRIBUTING WRITER
COVID-19 should have ended back in May when states were deciding to open everything back up to the public. With COVID-19 comes a vaccine, much controversy and two questions every Bonnie wanted answered for the fall of 2021 semester. The first of the two questions that have been on every student’s mind since the end of last semester was “Will the vaccine be mandatory to return to campus”?
As the Bonaventure community found out over summer break, every student had to be vaccinated to return to campus, or they would not be given their rooming assignment. When this news first broke, there was much outrage from students, parents, and alumni alike.
I was one among the students who were initially outraged, seeing how the vaccine was not FDA approved, nor did I see any point in getting this vaccine. After realizing that there was no way to avoid getting the vaccine, I eventually got it, as I would also be coming to Bonaventure a week early.
The one way a student could come to campus without getting the vaccine would be if they had filed for religious exemption. Now, even though students have filed for a religious exemption, they are still required to wear a mask when they are anywhere but their dorm.
The second question every student had regarding masks was “Will masks be mandatory prior to return to campus”?
Mask mandates were put into place for the students who are not currently vaccinated. Over the past few weeks, there have been a few cases of COVID-19 on campus. These cases were from fully vaccinated students who made a full recovery. With the students getting Covid-19, the school had sent out an email stating that masks are now strongly encouraged but not required yet.
This email had raised many concerns from students and faculty alike on whether or not mask mandates will be put into place once again. In all honesty, if you are vaccinated or unvaccinated, you should not have to wear a mask no matter how “strongly recommended” it is, and it should just be left up to the individual person.
As the questions were slowly answered over time, I still wonder, like others, if Bonaventure will bring back mask mandates for the year. Bringing back these mandates will more than likely cause much controversy amongst the student body, as many students are tired of the pandemic talks, and even the thought of wearing a mask is old.
Between receiving news of a mandatory vaccine, and new cases of COVID-19 on campus, it seems that mask mandates have not been effective and that it may not have any effect if they are brought back.
On an ending note, stop bringing up the mask mandates and COVID-19 just to start something. Only talk of it when necessary, such as if you have a question, bring it up to a health advisor or professional.
