BY ELIZABETH EDNIE, JAKE ZABSKI, AND KELLY LEWIS
After almost two years of masks being a common sight across campus, Stonehill is going mask-less for the first time since the pandemic first hit in March, 2020.
As of February 20, 2022, masks will only be required in Health Services, the Athletic Training Room, the Testing Center, and classrooms per professors’ discretion. Previously, masks were required to be worn in all campus locations with the exception of residential halls and outdoors.
Now, students, faculty, staff, and visitors are not expected to wear masks unless they feel a need too.
The lift of the mandate has led to mixed reactions from many across campus.
“Honestly I was shocked at first and disappointed, as were my suitemates when we found out. We feel that all of our efforts and precautions of being safe regarding COVID have now become meaningless because the mask mandate is lifted all of a sudden. With the amount of students still getting COVID it seems ridiculous to lift the mask mandate,” Senior Amanda Pasquale said.
According to the College’s dashboard, the positivity rate in the last seven days was 0.57 percent, meaning that there were 11 positive cases out of the 1,940 tests that were taken.
Students who have had COVID recently are happy about the change in protocol, since they cannot pass the virus to anyone else for the time being.
“After already having COVID in the beginning of the semester I am completely fine with the mask mandate being lifted because I know I can’t spread it to anyone. I do understand if people who have not gotten it [COVID] continue to wear masks because I would probably do the same,” Senior Chloe Landry said.
Other students said that some professors are encouraging their students to continue wearing masks in the classroom for various reasons, despite the shift in rules.
“My professor wants to keep wearing masks because of how many commuters we have in class, as well as student teachers, but as it gets warmer, she will review the guidelines again,” Senior Abby Guilfoyle said.
According to an email sent to students currently enrolled in biology classes, the Department of Biology is still requiring masks in biology lab classrooms, despite the recent announcement from the College.
“The requirement to wear masks in Biology Lab rooms will remain in place at least through March 18,” Department Chair Bronwyn Bleakley, said. “I will then follow any CDC changes in its science-based guidance on indoor masking and/or recognize if Bristol County community transmission rates drops to low, whichever comes first.”
Students are hopeful that the conditions will continue to improve throughout the semester because of the low positivity rates and high vaccination rates.
“Things are definitely taking a turn for the better on campus with COVID, cases are down and we have such a high vaccination rate. I think another month would’ve been nice until the weather gets warmer and it’s safer and I’ll probably wear my mask until then, but I’m excited that we are slowly and safely beginning a return to the normalcy we love and miss,” Senior Shane Braz said.
Assistant Athletic Director for Business Operations, Colleen Ford, OFS, said she is thrilled that the College lifted the mask mandate, because she finally gets to see everyone’s face while she is working.
“I was so grateful to see my staff’s smiling faces this morning at our all staff meeting,” she said.
While there are mixed feelings regarding the mask mandate lift, students, staff and faculty are all encouraged to do what they feel is safe for their personal preferences, and the College asks that all individuals respect what others are doing in order to keep themselves safe.
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