Over the past few weeks, masks are being worn less and less in Saint Xavier University’s Diner.
This conclusion was drawn from observations conducted by The Xavierite News Section Team on Nov. 2 and Nov. 4.
The following was looked for: how many people were unmasked or masked-up in The Diner and how its environment gets crowded at certain times, depending on the capacity.
On Nov. 2, observations were made at 10:20 a.m., 10:35 a.m., 10:49 a.m., 10:54 a.m., and 11:00 a.m. Beginning at 10:20 a.m and 10:49 a.m., less than four were fully masked without food or drinks and at least five were maskless sitting down.
From 10:49 a.m. to 10:54 a.m., 30 students gather in the Diner. More than five came in unmasked or didn’t wear them properly. At 11:00 a.m., 15 students were seen crammed together in tables and booths.
On Nov. 4 at 12:15 p.m., 14 students weren’t wearing masks, while eight people wore one. Seven people were wearing their masks improperly and stayed in close proximity with peers when speaking. Between 5:35 p.m. and 6:14 p.m., at least 11 people were maskless and two wore masks on Nov. 4.
On Aug. 1, SXU President Laurie M. Joyner, Ph.D. announced an indoor mask mandate, effective Aug. 2 regardless of vaccination status. As stated on the SXU website, Dining services and operations resumed this fall. “The SXU community is required to wear masks indoors in the SXU Diner, except when eating, and must continue to social distance.”
Our News Section spoke with SXU Diner Supervisor Roxanne Quinn on Nov. 5. Quinn has trouble breathing with the mask, claiming “it is not a big deal” if students don’t mask up because it gets hot and “humid” in the kitchen complex. Due to this, Quinn openly admitted that she is against this mandate ‘completely.’
Sophomore Brenda Gonzalez noted that she feels ‘forced’ to follow the mandate. To her, The Diner should be a “relaxed zone.” “I really don’t want to do it anymore if they are enforcing me,” said Gonzalez.
Freshman Farron Jones shared some of the same frustrations. “Not everyone wanna have their mask on every second,” saying, “The restrictions are more relaxed inside the diner. You can have your mask off anytime, pretty much except when you get your food.”
In a Dec. 2 email interview, Dean of Students, Katy Thompson stated “While it may be viewed as a “casual mask regulation zone,” it is not intended to be used to take a break from wearing a mask.” Thompson cannot speak on speculative situations or implied scenarios but has made it very clear that “The current policy has not changed.”
Sophomore Dan Kavanaugh expressed his thoughts about the masking culture in The Diner, saying, “Sometimes I do wear a mask, and sometimes I don’t, depending on the setting as well as the conversation I’m having with them.”
Freshman Natalia Lopez masks up and socializes with her friends “in a classroom environment.” Otherwise, when eating or outside, Lopez takes her mask off.
On Friday, Nov. 5, our News Section Editor spoke with SXU Diner Cashier Anita Mccafferty about her views on The Diner’s new reopening plan. Mccafferty had witnessed students communicating with or without masks.
“Until the end of the school year,” she agreed that students should only be allowed to remove their masks when they are eating or drinking, “and, of course, outside,” added Mccafferty.
However, she has an exception to this. “I feel like people are less on edge because of the [COVID-19] vaccines, and we are all aware now that when it first started, we thought we’d just walk out our front door and get it,” continuing, “And now we know that’s not the case.” Mccafferty ‘personally’ takes the mask mandate less seriously than the start of the pandemic to now, part of the reason the rule is not as enforced.
Still, in the past week, the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) officials reported 21,034 new confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19, with an additional 87 deaths from Nov. 17-23. The preliminary seven-day statewide positivity rate had remained at 4.1% but has now ticked up to 5.7% as of Nov. 26-Dec.1.
Media Relations Manager Breeanna Villalpando says that it is only “permissible to remove a mask on campus when a community member is eating or drinking,” adding, “The SXU Diner is a designated area for eating.” Villalpando further addressed these concerns in a Saint Xavier general statement on Nov. 20.
“All staff, faculty and students are responsible for properly following guidelines and holding one another accountable to protect the health and safety of others,” continuing, “Community members who notice others not respecting guidelines should ask them to follow University and state-mandated regulations.”
“The Saint Xavier community’s caring culture and willingness to protect one another has been impressive, and our mitigation efforts have resulted in consistently low COVID-19 positivity rates,” she said.
About Post Author
