BY CASSIDEY KAVATHAS, MANAGING EDITOR
Masks will no longer be required in St. Bonaventure University classrooms as of Monday, March 14. The Wellness Center will be the only on-campus facility that still requires masks.
“We’ve been really kind of in lockstep with following both federal and state guidance, CDC guidance suggested masks weren’t necessary anymore,” said Tom Missel, chief communication officer and the co-chair of the COVID-19 taskforce. “The big thing for us was when the state finally turned the tide on masks in classrooms in K through 12.”
The university waited to lift the requirement until one week after midterm break. This was to prevent a campus COVID outbreak as students and faculty returned. The university COVID caseload has remained low throughout February. The CDC also lists Cattaraugus County as green which means a low level of COVID spread.
“All the scientists are saying we’re probably pretty close to entering the endemic stage, where it’s just the virus that we’ll have to learn how to live with now,” said Missel. “The cases have dropped off dramatically, especially locally in the last three or four weeks. So we felt it was the right time to do it.”
The faculty senate worked with the university to make the decision to not require masks in classes. Faculty will be provided N95 masks if they desire one. Faculty cannot require students to wear masks in class, they can only strongly recommend that students do.
“As we said in the Notice Board, there are some faculty members who are still genuinely very concerned about it [COVID]. Some of them are older, some of them may have health comorbidities,” said Missel. “If they request that the students wear the masks for that class, then we’re hopeful the students will honor that.”
The university lifting the mask mandate has caused mixed opinions among students.
“I’m happy that we are able to see each other’s faces though I’m worried about some of the older or more at risk professors,” said Ryan Connolly, a sophomore education major.
“I’m kind of excited but I’m worried about the restrictions coming back,” said Addam Cansdale, a freshman psychology major.
While some faculty members are optimistic about the new policy, Bonaventure’s faculty remains divided on the issue.
“I’m pretty comfortable with the way in which the university has now decided to proceed,” said Robert Shapiro, an adjunct professor of philosophy. “I’m not sure whether I myself will wear a mask that may depend upon where else I’m likely to be visiting and things like that.”
“At this point, I do not feel comfortable going maskless,” said Dr. Lori Henning, assistant professor of history. “I will continue to wear a mask for the foreseeable future.”
For some professors, masks have presented a challenge for instruction.
“It’s hard to teach and talk with a mask on. It’s hard to see the students’ reaction because you don’t see their face,” said Dr. Guy Imhoff, a professor of French. “It’s hard to get to know your students because you don’t know what they look like without a mask sometimes.”
kavathcj20@bonaventure.edu
