Despite forewarnings of COVID-19 cases possibly increasing at drastic rates during the Fall season, Saint Xavier University did not hesitate to fully open its doors to students, staff, and faculty. Just before the Fall 2021 semester began, Saint Xavier announced that masks were not required for those who were fully vaccinated.
However, how would the university know who was or wasn’t fully vaccinated? Was it supposed to be an honor system? Students, staff, nor faculty ever received such an answer because on Aug. 2, SXU President, Laurie M. Joyner, Ph.D., sent an email to the SXU community that indoor masking was required, regardless of vaccination status.
While that news was comforting, it’s only doing the bare minimum. As we know, masks only help reduce the spread of the virus, not completely eradicate the possibility of spreading it, or catching it. A member of the Xavierite Editorial Boards says, “Some of my professors don’t even enforce students wearing their masks, which I’m very disappointed about.”
Although, since then, SXU has stepped up their COVID-19 protocols and have fully complied with state mandates. On Aug. 26, the university’s president announced that all faculty, students, and staff must be fully vaccinated–following Gov. J. B. Pritzker’s mandate for Ill. Of course, there are exemptions, such as rare medical conditions, or religious beliefs.
But what about the unvaccinated people? Who would watch over them and make sure they were following the state guidelines? To the university’s credit, a COVID-19 testing site was set up at the previous location of the school’s bookstore. Those unvaccinated are required to be tested weekly.
However, at what point do these tests conclude being sponsored by the university? Why should vaccinated students have to pay for these types of tests, for those unwilling to do their part? I guess it’s a “wait and see” situation.
Dean of Students, Katy Thompson, said via email, “Each student should tap for access, and students should not hold the door for others.”
Despite those efforts, it is an honor system. As we know, most honor systems fail because there will always be those selfish people who think of only themselves. Here at the Xavierite Editorial Board, we have eyewitness accounts of people holding doors for each other, some doors being left open, etc.
A member of the Xavierite Board says, “I don’t feel SXU is doing everything to keep us safe. For example, making us swipe our Cougar Cards when I’ve seen at least 25 students enter because they’re holding the door which cancels out the purpose of making us swipe our cards.”
As a suggested safety measure, one member of the Xavierite Board says, “Having security would probably be better. As in, checking people’s vaccination cards since [the university] really wants to start pinpointing [unvaccinated people] out of the crowd now.”
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