I was thinking about the issue of requiring COVID shots at Universities after reading that a Federal Judge had cleared Indiana University to make this demand of students and faculty. What returned my attention to this issue was the University of North Dakota President making the decision not to require shots before students would be allowed on campus in the fall. Encourage everyone to get a shot – yes. Require a shot – no. UND was the institution where I spent most of my career.
The reluctance to take action to limit the spread and damage of this issue puzzled me. I see this as a failing of logic. I remember that UND had a requirement that incoming students and faculty prove they have had other vaccinations. I checked just to make certain I had not imagined this requirement. Nope the required shots were easy enough to find. Why then would the administration decide to allow those unvaccinated against COVID, a more likely health problem, to endanger themselves and others. The only explanation I could come up with was the Republican bias of the states. Politicians within the state had come under pressure for expecting masks and shots and administrators at a state institution seemed leery of similar criticism.
UND wants to promote the mantra – “Leaders go here”. Here is an opportunity to demonstrate leadership and stand for the facts and science you teach and you wimp out. The state’s Med school and a major nursing pre program are even located at UND. The claim this is a personal choice is bunk. Others should not exposed to danger because of your personal choice. Don’t be wimps.