Ask the Canes

What do you think about the mask policy at GSW?

Junior Visual Arts Major

“As someone who has a disabled, immunocompromised mother, and lives with her high-risk, eighty-seven year old grandmother, I am honestly terrified by GSW’s practically nonexistent mask policy. Every day that I go to class and see my peers without their masks on around me, I am afraid that they will give me COVID, that I will bring it back to my mother and grandmother, and that they will contract COVID, have to be hospitalized, and possibly even die. I know that sounds morbid, but I’m genuinely terrified of that very real possibility everyday. If the administration is reading this, please require masks indoors on campus. I shouldn’t be forced to have to choose between getting my education and risking my mother’s and my grandmother’s lives.”

Visual Arts Professor

“I find it very disrespectful when people do not wear masks when there are around others. You don’t know anybody’s situation: the people around you could be high risk, immunocompromised, or live with someone who is high risk or immunocompromised. I think masks should absolutely be required indoors on campus, and I think it is quite stupid that GSW does not mandate indoor mask wearing. I find it ridiculous that I can tell my students in the art department to wear safety glasses, masks, etc. in our workshops to protect themselves from flying debris, etc., but I am not allowed to tell my students to wear a mask indoors to protect themselves from a deadly virus. I feel the same way about vaccines.”

English Professor

“To be honest, I feel that it’s irresponsible. I think that it should be in the administration to set policies in place that keep everyone safe. Framing it as a matter of personal choice isn’t really the issue here, the issue is responsibility, and if we’re not willing to be the adults in the room then I think that leads to larger problems and larger conflicts in the classroom that wouldn’t be the case if we had a blanket policy. We can’t know who’s vaccinated and who isn’t because the policy also says that we can’t ask anyone about their vaccination status. Vaccination notwithstanding, one thing that we know works to stop the spread is wearing masks and social distancing. I know the USG wants everything to go back to normal, the problem is that this is not normal, and when we got complacent over the summer, case counts starting rising. My own take is that they’re afraid of political blowback. That they are worried about student groups with particular political stripes and parents with particular political stripes might get them in trouble if they don’t provide a, quote unquote, normal university experience. That’s the problem; we’ve politicized a virus that doesn’t care how you vote, it exists only to propagate itself, it doesn’t care if you’re a Democrat or Republican.”

Student receiving COVID-19 Vaccination

Picture by University Relations

Junior English Major

“I personally think that the covid mask and vaccination policies should be enforced being that it’s mostly the youth who aren’t following what’s recommended by the CDC and medical experts. We’re still in a pandemic and it would just be safer for everyone if those regulations were mandatory.”

Sophomore Psychology Major

“I believe we should have a choice whether or not we wear a mask. If they want us to wear one why don’t they incentivize, let’s say wear your mask and I’ll give you 5 points on your next grade. That’s my opinion on it.”

Senior Visual Arts Major

“Oh you mean the mask policy nobody cares about or follows? It’s so stupid that the campus doesn’t mandate it. Letting people decide whether to wear a mask indoors or not isn’t working, because the majority of students on campus aren’t doing it.”

Junior Business Major

“I think it’s good that they don’t enforce it. It’s a matter of personal interpretation and people should have the choice of whether or not they choose to wear a mask. Of course, if there comes a time where enforced policies become necessary for everyone’s safety, I would support it.”

Junior Visual Arts Major

“I understand why some people would have fears and questions surrounding vaccines as everyone has their own personal health histories,conditions, and experiences, but I don’t understand why anyone would be resistant to wearing a mask. Masks should absolutely be required indoors on campus.”

Students in Herschel A. Smith Health Center

Picture by David Parks Photography