Students at Simon Fraser University are calling for tougher COVID-19 measures as B.C. cases continue to surge.
In a Sept. 8 news release, the Simon Fraser Student Society says while some measures have been taken, such as mask mandates in classrooms and rapid testing for those not vaccinated, B.C.'s approach to reopening universities is at "an all-time low."
"SFU Students are happy to see measures being implemented such as mask mandates for classrooms and rapid testing for the unvaccinated,” Simon Fraser Student Society president Gabe Liosis states in the release
"But many students believe that the province and B.C. universities are fundamentally falling short of implementing measures that we know can ensure our safety this fall.”
To live in on-campus housing, residents must be vaccinated while proof of vaccination is not required to go to in-person classes, seminars or tutorials.
Those in health science programs have to be fully vaccinated to participate in student practicum and clinical placements in long-term care or extended-care facilities.
Instead, the university is choosing a different route requiring faculty, staff, students and those who plan to visit campuses are required to register and make a self-declaration of their COVID-19 vaccine status.
A website will ask for vaccine statuses. If fully vaccinated, that is the only step required. If you aren't vaccinated, you will receive information how to schedule a vaccination and get rapid screening.
"We are working with public health to renew our on-campus rapid screening pilot. As we determine next steps, we will refer those who need testing to local testing centres," SFU president and vice-chancellor Joy Johnson said in an update.
"This element of our planning is underway and we will provide more information as we have it."
The student society says they have been calling on SFU administration and the provincial government to bring in measures that would create an equitable return to in-person learning while also taking every precaution to stop the transmission of COVID-19 on campus.
A call to action list provided by the society is asking for:
- Teaching Adjustments: Working with faculty and staff to support hybrid teaching methods, mandating recorded lectures, removing mandated in-person participation marks and accommodating any marginalized student as per their needs
- Mental and Personal Health: Removing barriers to access accommodations/adjustments to the Centre for Accessible Learning (CAL)
- Public Health: Requiring social distancing in lecture halls, providing COVID-19 testing on campus for all community members, providing ongoing vaccination clinics on campus, mandating masks and vaccines for all community members, thorough sanitization protocols and improved air circulation in classes
“If students are given the choice to take a vaccine or not, students should be given the choice to attend in-person classes or not – hybrid models should be implemented and prioritized," Vice President of Equity and Sustainability Marie Haddad added in the release.
“Many students are having anxiety or stress related to the last-minute nature and non-equitable approach to the return to campus, they should not be forced to return to campus, risking their health in order to continue their education. The University needs to do more.”
The society also expressed frustration with the school doing only what they are told to do by the province and the province not wanting to do more.
"Post-secondary institutions like SFU will only commit to what they are told to do by the province.
"The province’s unwillingness to give Universities agency to implement safety measures that go above and beyond provincial guidelines will inevitably lead to the spread of COVID-19 in the community that could have been prevented."
