This past Thursday, students gathered in Charlotte for the first football game of the season. Two days later, some of those same people gathered for a concert in Boone with at least 32,000 in attendance. There were no testing requirements, proof of vaccination, or mask mandates for either event. 

Faculty have already expressed that they don’t feel safe in classrooms. These two events could be super spreaders for the town of Boone and ASU. With no way to require testing for both vaccinated and unvaccinated students, we should have the option to join class via zoom until students reach the suggested vaccination rate per the health department. 

Students deserve an online option for classes, and faculty should not be forced into spaces where they don’t feel safe. If our university truly prides itself on creating a safe and equitable environment, administration should make the right choice and allow students to have a virtual option for all classes. 

-Concerned Student