We faculty members of Boston College write to request a masking mandate in classrooms. In response to the new known and unknown dangers that we now face from the Delta variant of COVID-19, most peer colleges and universities have classroom mask mandates—from Holy Cross to Harvard, Boston University, and many others. Brookline and Newton K-12 schools have a mask mandate, and the mayors of Newton and Boston have issued mask mandates in indoor public spaces.
At this point, BC has decided to return to campus without a mask mandate, except as required in spaces accessible to the general public, as mandated by Boston and Newton. Given the dangers from the Delta variant of COVID-19, and given the measures that are being taken throughout the state and at peer institutions, BC’s policy is difficult for us to understand. BC’s policy appears to impose avoidable risks on faculty, their families, and the students and other clients that they serve, and it introduces unnecessary complexity into classroom relationships.
Faculty members and graduate instructors across the schools and departments of this University have concerns such as:
According to the CDC, certain vaccinated people remain at increased risk for severe disease from COVID-19, including older adults and those who have certain medical conditions, such as diabetes, obesity, and heart conditions. Many BC faculty and staff, and members of their families, fall in this category. A mask mandate will prioritize their protection.A great many colleagues have unvaccinated young children at home, for whom vaccines are not available. A mask mandate will protect these young children, as well as others in the schools that the children attend.Many BC students are in academic programs that require in-person contact with unvaccinated children in schools or clinical settings off-campus. Further, Campion Hall is home to the Boston College Campus School, which serves young children with severe special needs who are acutely vulnerable. Mandatory masking in classrooms would help protect these children. Some colleagues may be required to consider not teaching in conditions that they feel are excessively risky. BC tours, prospective students on self-guided audio tours, and unmonitored access to most buildings on campus means that stairwells, hallways, lounges, restrooms, and classrooms are places where members of the public can enter at will.The lack of a mask mandate puts unnecessary pressure on teacher-student relationships. Faculty who wish to implement a mask policy in the classroom are only allowed to make a request, but they may not require masking. This requires extra negotiation between students and teachers and introduces potential stress between participants in a classroom. Many professors will do this creatively and skillfully, but it is an extra step that a mandate would eliminate.
Another set of considerations is that the current COVID-19 prevention policy on BC’s campuses is now formulated in reaction to municipal guidelines, so that policy on the Brighton campus is different from policy on Newton campus, when Newton and Boston policy differ. We would like to see the University prioritize coherence and proactivity in prevention policy, with a mask mandate for all campuses.
Last year, as a community, we met unprecedented challenges with unexpected success, due to diligence, generosity, communication, and genuine care for others. We are optimistic that BC’s community is sufficiently generous, flexible, and intelligent to deal with what arises this year.
Sincerely,
The BC American Association of University Professors Executive Board (Yonder Gillihan, President)
Faculty for Justice
Individual Signatures of Faculty
Allison Adair, EnglishLillie R. Albert, Lynch School of Education and Human DevelopmentEmrah Altindis, BiologyJames E. Anderson, EconomicsLynne Anderson, EnglishStefano Anzellotti, Psychology and NeuroscienceAngela Ards, EnglishGrace Arenas, EnglishAnatoly Arlashin, EconomicsJames Aronson, Lynch School of Education and Human DevelopmentAvner Ash, MathematicsSarah Babb, SociologyKarl Baden, Art, Art History, and FilmSusanto Basu, EconomicsEthan Baxter, Earth and Environmental SciencesSharon Beckman, LawSarah H. Beckjord, Romance Languages and LiteraturesMark Behn, Earth and Environmental SciencesJennifer Behr, LawJuliana Belding, MathematicsDianne Berg, EnglishPamela Berger, Art, Art History, and FilmFernando R. Bernava, Romance Languages and LiteraturesSuzanne Berne, EnglishTheresa Betancourt, School of Social WorkFraser Binns, MathematicsJessica Black, School of Social WorkRobert Bloom, LawAngela Boatman, Lynch School of Education and Human DevelopmentAmy Boesky, EnglishKristen Bottema-Beutel, Lynch School of Education and Human DevelopmentJulian Bourg, HistoryCheryl Bratt, LawBenjamin Braude, HistoryJoe Breines, Romance Languages and LiteraturesKris Brewer, Art, Art History, and FilmMartin Bridgeman, MathematicsMark Brodin, LawDavid Broido, PhysicsRobyn Brooks, MathematicsNathaniel Brown, Lynch School of Education and Human DevelopmentKenneth Stephen Burch, PhysicsJane Cassidy, Art, Art History, and FilmJacob Caudell, MathematicsRyan Chahrour, EconomicsAbhishek Chatterjee, ChemistryMeghna Chaudhuri, HistoryDawei Chen, MathematicsQile Chen, MathematicsXiao Chen, PhysicsSing-chen Lydia Chiang, Eastern, Slavic, and German StudiesMary Ann Chirba, LawPaul Christensen, Political Science and International StudiesVincent Cho,, Lynch School of Education and Human DevelopmentSammy Chong, Art, Art History, and FilmPaul Cichello, EconomicsHannah Clay, EnglishPeter Clote, BiologyMarilyn Cochran-Smith, Lynch School of Education and Human DevelopmentCaleb Cole, Art, Art History, and FilmRebekah Levine Coley, Lynch School of Education and Human DevelopmentSara Cordes, Psychology and NeuroscienceAndy Crow, English Maria Cruz, Theology Allison Curseen, English and African and African Diaspora StudiesCarrie Cushman, Art, Art History, and FilmDeanna Malvesti Danforth, EnglishKyrah Malika Daniels, Art History and African and African Diaspora StudiesNatana J. DeLong-Bas, Theology and Islamic Civilization and SocietiesCharles Derber, SociologyAlethea Desrosiers, School of Social WorkClaire Donohue, LawRebecca Dunn, BiologyIkram Easton, Eastern, Slavic, and German StudiesJoyce K. Edmonds, Connell School of NursingSarah Ehrich, EnglishHanne Eisenfeld, Classical StudiesJan Engelbrecht, PhysicsCan Erbil, EconomicsJennifer Erickson, Political Science and International StudiesWen Fan, SociologyMaksym Fedorchuk, MathematicsMaggie Ferguson, EnglishEmine Fetvaci, Art, Art History and FilmRobin Fleming, HistoryDaniel Fox, ChemistryRhonda Frederick, English and African, and African Diaspora StudiesSolomon Friedberg, MathematicsVincent Fusaro, School of Social WorkGomathy Ganapathy, MathematicsJianmin Gao, ChemistryFrank J. Garcia, LawKim Garcia, EnglishZachary Gardner, MathematicsStella Gastineau, MathematicsDacia Gentilella, EnglishYota Gikas, Lynch School of Education and Human DevelopmentYohana Gil Berrio, Romance LanguagesYonder Gillihan, TheologyEllen Goldstein, MathematicsLisa Goodman, Lynch School of Education and Human DevelopmentMichael Graf, PhysicsElizabeth Graver, English Joshua Greene, MathematicsRob Gross, MathematicsNora Gross, SociologyHiba Hafiz, LawLaura E. Hake, BiologyLori Harrison-Kahan, EnglishJoshua K. Hartshorne, Psychology and NeuroscienceDean Hashimoto, LawDayton Haskin, EnglishSummer Hawkins, School of Social WorkKenji Hayao, Political ScienceAndrea Heberlein, Psychology and NeuroscienceChris Higgins, Lynch School of Education and Human DevelopmentIngrid Michelsen Hillinger, LawNate Hartmann, ChemistryGene Heyman, Psychology andNeuroscienceMartha Hincks, EnglishMary Ann Hinsdale, IHM, TheologyKathleen Hirsch, PULSE and PhilosophyMeg Holly, EnglishAnne Homza, Lynch School of Education and Human DevelopmentBen Howard, MathematicsMarjorie Howes, EnglishMarius Huber, MathematicsAeron Hunt, EnglishKristin Imre, EnglishXin Jin, MathematicsMary Jo Iozzio, School of Theology and MinistryLauri Johnson, Lynch School of Education and Human DevelopmentMarilynn Johnson, HistoryAngie Johnston, Psychology and NeuroscienceAndrew Jorgenson, Sociology and Environmental StudiesAlan Kafka, Earth and Environmental SciencesGabor J. Kalman, PhysicsDaniel Kanstroom, LawArielle Kaplan, EnglishThomas Kaplan-Maxfield, EnglishMark Kazarosian, EconomicsSara Keary, School of Social WorkElisabeth Keller, LawMelissa M. Kelley, School of Theology and MinistryChristopher P. Kenaley, BiologyStacie Kent, HistoryOh Myo Kim, Lynch School of Education and Human DevelopmentJeeuhn Kim, MathematicsKyoung-yim Kim, Women’s and Gender StudiesJonathan Kirshner, Political Science and International Studies Peter Krause, Political Science and International StudiesSeth C. Kruckenberg, Earth and Environmental SciencesMasha Krupenkin, Political ScienceAli Kulez, Romance Languages and LiteraturesPraveen Kumar, School of Social WorkAmanda Labriola, EnglishMichele Lauriat, Art, Art History, and FilmRobert S. Lehman, EnglishStephanie Leone, Art, Art History, and Film Jacqueline Lerner, Lynch School of Education and Human DevelopmentArthur Lewbel, EconomicsPaul Lewis, EnglishTao Li, MathematicsZhushan Mandy Li, Lynch School of Education and Human DevelopmentTony Lin, Eastern, Slavic, and German StudiesKathryn Lindsey, MathematicsVicki Losick, BiologyKevin Lotery, Art, Art History, and FilmMicah Lott, PhilosophyRebecca Lowenhaupt, Lynch School of Education and Human DevelopmentFang Lu, Eastern, Slavic, and German StudiesLarry Ludlow, Lynch School of Education and Human DevelopmentM. Brinton Lykes, Psychology and Lynch School of Education and Human DevelopmentUrsula Mangoubi, Eastern, Slavic, and German Studies Gage Martin, MathematicsPaula Mathieu, EnglishSuzanne Matson, EnglishZachary Matus, HistoryChristina Matz, School of Social WorkMaia McAleavey, EnglishMarina McCoy, Philosophy Patricia McCoy, LawMichael McDannald, Psychology and NeuroscienceCherie McGill, PhilosophyC. Shawn McGuffey, African and African Diaspora Studies andSociologySheila McIntosh, Romance Languages and LiteraturesSarah McMenamin, BiologyKatherine McNeill, Lynch School of Education and Human DevelopmentPatrick McQuillan, Lynch School of Education and Human DevelopmentKen Metz, ChemistryMichelle Meyer, Biology Robert Meyerhoff, MathematicsDavid Miele, Lynch School of Education and Human DevelopmentCourtney Pina Miller, EnglishDorothy Miller, EnglishKaren K. Miller, History and African and African Diaspora StudiesAlan Minuskin, LawGilda Morelli, Psychology and Lynch School of Education and Human DevelopmentRennie Mirollo, MathematicsRebekah Mitsein, EnglishSean Mitsein, EnglishAsako Miyaki, JapaneseTobi Moektijono, MathematicsBabak Momeni, BiologyCatherine Mooney, School of Theology and MinistryFranco Mormando, Romance LanguagesJulie Holland Mortimer, EconomicsRobert Motley Jr., School of Social WorkHanni Myers, Eastern, German, and Slavic StudiesStuart Nadler, EnglishNancy Netzer, Art, Art History, and FilmJoseph Nugent, EnglishLynne O’Connell, ChemistryLaura O’Dwyer, Lynch School of Education and Human DevelopmentArissa Oh, HistoryKevin Ohi, EnglishHeather Olins, BiologyErik Owens, Theology and International StudiesMariela Paez, Lynch School of Education and Human DevelopmentHilary Palevsky, Earth and Environmental SciencesReena Parikh, LawDevin Pendas, HistoryAzlin Perdomo, Romance LanguagesGregory Petershack, EnglishStefan Peychev, HistoryStephen Pfohl, SociologyDeborah Piatelli, SociologyMaría Piñeros-Leaño, School of Social WorkZygmunt Plater, LawChristopher Polt, Classical StudiesMaggi Price, School of Social WorkPatrick Proctor, Lynch School of Education and Human DevelopmentLorenzo Alexander Puente, EnglishKeaton Quinn, MathematicsYing Ran, PhysicsMark Reeder, MathematicsTeva Regule, TheologyVirginia Reinburg, HistoryBraeden Reinoso, MathematicsFrances Restuccia, EnglishElizabeth Rhodes, Hispanic StudiesMaureen Ritchey, Psychology and NeuroscienceKaren Rosen, Psychology and NeuroscienceSarah Gwyneth Ross, HistoryHeather Rowan-Kenyon, Lynch School of Education and Human DevelopmentBonnie Rudner, EnglishJames Russell, Psychology & NeuroscienceMichael Russell, Lynch School of Education and Human DevelopmentCassie Ryan, Connell School of/Woods College of Advancing StudiesMatthew S. Rutledge, EconomicsErika Sabbath, School of Social WorkDana Sajdi, HistoryFranck Salameh, Eastern, Slavic, and German StudiesChandini Sankaran, EconomicsTom Sapsford, Classical StudiesIndrani Saran, School of Social WorkEvangeline Sarda, LawNatalia Sarkisian, SociologyRobert Savage, History and Irish StudiesDavid Scanlon, Lynch School of Education and Human DevelopmentMargaret Schatkin, TheologyFabio Schiantarelli, EconomicsMaren Schiffer, EnglishKay Schlozman, Political ScienceJuliet Schor, SociologyScott Seider, Lynch School of Education and Human DevelopmentDavid Shames, Romance LanguagesVera Sharunova, EconomicsJustin Shatraw, Art, Art History, and FilmKalpana Seshadri, EnglishSusan Shell, Political ScienceMary Sherman, Art, Art History, and Film Natalya Shnitser, Law Dennis Shirley, Lynch School of Education and Human DevelopmentDimitar Simeonov, EconomicsScott Slotnick, Psychology and NeuroscienceJim Smith, EnglishMarc Snapper, ChemistryNoah Snyder, Earth and Environmental SciencesAndrew Sofer, EnglishJean-Luc Solère, PhilosophyRuth Sondermann, German StudiesMin Hyoung Song, EnglishEve Spangler, SociologyMark Spiegel, Law Marius Stan, PhilosophyRobert Stanton, EnglishMartin Summers, History and African and African Diaspora StudiesElizabeth Sutherland, Classical StudiesEileen Sweeney, PhilosophyMeghan Sweeney, Theology and PULSERichard Sweeney, EconomicsLaura Tanner, EnglishCatherine Taylor, School of Social WorkSamantha Teixeira, School of Social WorkMark Thatcher, Classical StudiesMargaret Thomas, Eastern, Slavic, and German StudiesMary Troxell, PhilosophyMariela Dakova, Slavic StudiesUsha Tummala-Narra, Counseling, Developmental, and Educational Psychology, Lynch School of Education and Human DevelopmentUtku Ünver, EconomicsConevery Bolton Valencius, HistoryErnesto Valiente, School of Theology and MinistryBrittney van de Water, Connell School of NursingMaureen Van Neste, LawMatthias Waegele, ChemistryDunwei Wang, ChemistryMujie Wang, MathematicsJon M. Wargo, Lynch School of Education and Human DevelopmentEranthie Weerapana, ChemistryDebra Weisberg, Art, Art History, and FilmEric Weiskott, EnglishJames M. Weiss, TheologyLauren Wilwerding, EnglishDavid Wirth, Law, PHCGJamison Wolf, MathematicsKevin Yeh, MathematicsWen Yu, HistoryXiaoqing Yu, Eastern, Slavic, and German StudiesIlija Zeljkovic, PhysicsMatthew Zevenbergen, MathematicsPeter Zhang, ChemistryHuiqing Zhou, ChemistryBrian Zimmerman, English
Featured Graphic by Olivia Charbonneau/ Heights Editor