“At this point I don’t think we’ll ever get out of mask mandates,” senior AJ Boyd said. “It feels like it’s been forever since I’ve seen a real face that isn’t on a Zoom call or under a mask.”
On Wednesday Oct. 13, the Board of Trustees voted to extend the university’s mask policy.
“Masks will continue to be required inside most University of Wyoming buildings where 6-foot social distancing isn’t possible,” the university said in a statement.
A few exemptions exist in the mask policy, including voluntary events such as athletics and theater or other social events.
Attendees of Half Acre Recreation or the Wellness Center do not have to wear masks when participating in any recreational activities or being a spectator at a recreational event according to the university’s statement.
The last exemption is for any employees and students who have legitimate medical reasons to not wear masks.
“I really don’t like masks,” junior Joseph Veluri said. “I understand the rule and I’ll follow them, but I think the Board should allow people to make that decision if they want it personally. There shouldn’t be a policy about it.”
“I’m not surprised. In fact, I like that we are having this continue until we can get COVID off our campus,” Boyd said.
Veluri said that he would like to see the focus on vaccines, rather than masks.
“I do agree that masks work. But I would argue the vaccines are better and if someone is already vaccinated, they should be able to choose if they feel the need to wear a mask or not,” Veluri said.
“It’s time to get away from masks, but than can only be done if we have as high of a vaccine rate as possible or if COVID is no longer a problem in the county,” junior Ashlee Korikson said.
According to the university at the time of the mask extension statement, there were 22 active cases of COVID-19 among staff and students. 10 students off campus, six students on campus, and six employees.
“The problem I see is that the disease is still spreading. We’re not going to get away from mask rules and whatnot until there aren’t any cases in the county.
“We need the masks,” Boyd said. “Until that number is zero and there is no threat of transmission, we need the masks.”
“I get anti-mask arguments and I agree with the feeling,” Korikson said. “But I do think we should wear out masks for the remainder of the semester just to try to get this thing over with before the spring.”
According to UW, a recent ASUW-led survey found that 49% of students agreed with the current mask policy, while 21.5% only somewhat agreed and 29.5% disagreed.
“I fully agree with the current policy.” Boyd said. “The policy should stay in place until we’re out of COVID.”
“I think the policy is not effective enough and I have to disagree with it,” Velrui said.
“I agree with a mask policy, but I think the board should stop just extending it every meeting,” Korikson said. “They should just set a hard policy until the end of the semester and not leave it up to a vote every time they meet until then.”
The UW Board of Trustees next meeting is scheduled for Nov. 17-19. The mask policy as well as other COVID-19 policies will be reviewed then.
