BY KELLY LEWIS
As a senior who would like to enjoy her last semester on campus and avoid restrictions or cancellations of events - especially graduation - I’m begging you to wear your mask. I get it: we’re two years into this crazy pandemic and we’re all tired of the masking protocols. I have yet to find anything that prevents my glasses from fogging up while wearing a mask and it's frustrating, but I still wear it.
After spending my first week on campus this month, I was disappointed in my Stonehill community. What happened to “protecting the nest?” On several occasions, I witnessed students not only without any mask on their face, but some with it on their chin or even in their hands while inside a building on campus. And then you have the students who have a mask, but fail to wear it properly over both their mouth and nose. Every time I walk by someone who isn’t wearing a mask or who is wearing it wrong, I just wanna yell, “It’s my senior year and I’m trying to make the most of it. Put on a mask!” But I know that's not the smartest way to deal with a problem, so instead, I’m taking my anger out on my keyboard and expressing my feelings the only way I know how: by writing.
My hope is that this article won’t be ignored - as many of the emails sent out and signs on campus regarding masking protocols apparently are by some. Look…it's my last semester on campus and I want to have fun. I want to be able to go to Brother Mike’s with my friends, celebrate 100 days, 50 days, attend the Snowflake Soiree, and the Spring concert. I want to do all the fun activities that have been canceled in the past due to the spike in positive COVID cases.
And most importantly, I want to walk across the stage in May with my cap and gown on, maybe even my mask, and receive my diploma with my family watching from the crowd. As someone who graduated from an online high school and never had a formal in-person graduation with a cap and gown and walking across the stage to receive my diploma, this is something I’ve dreamed of since my first week as a freshman on campus. Graduating from college is a major accomplishment and I want to be able to celebrate it with the people who have supported me along the way. But this will only be possible if COVID is manageable. So I’m asking - I’m begging - you all to wear your mask, wash your hands, and follow the COVID protocols in place for our safety so I can have a somewhat “normal” graduation in May.
Again, I get it. I too am tired of always having to remember to wear a mask, but it’s such a small gesture and price to pay to live on campus and have in-person events. You may believe you have a reasonable excuse for not wearing a mask, but get real. Even if you aren’t a senior or don’t have any senior friends, wouldn’t you want a normal graduation? And if you can’t think that far into the future, don’t you at least want a normal semester with in-person events and activities? If yes, then wear your mask, please.
Do you know what’s also frustrating? Some people don’t have a choice to wear a mask. For example, those with disabilities or impairments, such as my Deaf sign language professor who lipreads. American Sign Language (ASL) includes a ton of facial gestures, making it hard to understand someone signing with a mask. During our first class meeting, my professor put two of the clear screen protector boards in front of him so he could take off his mask and we could read his facial expressions. During this class, I felt like it was imperative to wear my mask correctly to keep my professor safe. As a member of the Stonehill community, I’m trying to do my part to keep everyone safe and healthy. I would feel horrible if I was responsible for spreading COVID, wouldn’t you?
The gym is another place of conflict with COVID protocols. As an avid gym-goer, this is frustrating. I don’t feel safe working out at the Sports Complex. Although we are only on week two of the semester, each time I’ve gone, only about 25 percent of students were wearing masks. The remaining 75 percent either choose not to wear a mask or wear it improperly. Again, I get it: wearing a mask while working out is extremely frustrating. It limits your oxygen levels which you need for cardio and lifting, but it's the only way to keep the gym open. I would rather the gym be open and have to wear a mask than the gym be closed. Sometimes, when I’m working out I just wish those not wearing a mask would be asked to leave.
I am aware that almost everyone on campus is vaccinated, but breakthrough cases do happen. And it seems like every week, a new COVID variant is announced. So if you think being vaccinated is a good excuse for not wearing a mask…think again. What is it going to take to get you all to wear masks? Should I start yelling at people? Should I pull down my mask and start coughing and sneezing everywhere? Tell me: what's it gonna take to convince you to wear your mask?
Serious responses can be emailed to klewis1@students.stonehill.edu
photo courtesy of Kelly Lewis
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