Eastern Michigan University’s current COVID-19 safety policies state that “all members of the campus community (including all students, employees, and visitors) must wear a face mask while indoors, regardless of vaccination status.”

This mandate is based on scientific evidence, government guidance, and common sense. Yet, for no clear reason, instructors are exempted from the requirement — permitted to remove masks while they are teaching. 

Professors must do their part in protecting students, colleagues, and the community. Since EMU recognizes that masks are an essential tool in preventing the spread of COVID-19, there is no good reason for faculty to be an exception.

I decided to start this petition after an instructor in one of my courses refused to wear a mask to protect others while lecturing, even after receiving multiple direct requests. At least one student dropped the course because of this, and several others privately shared their own discomfort.

Under the current policy, students whose professors refuse to wear masks are forced to choose between their education and their safety. This is an unacceptable situation. And, given that students and other employees are required to wear masks indoors at all times, the exemption for faculty is also an unreasonable double standard. If students can wear masks during class, so can instructors.

Out of 15 public universities in Michigan, all but one have a mask mandate in place. Of those with mask mandates, EMU is the only one to exempt vaccinated instructors from this requirement.

EMU’s mask policy was put in place at a time when COVID-19 case numbers in Washtenaw County were still relatively low. Now, with high levels of community transmission, and breakthrough infections on the rise among the vaccinated, faculty going unmasked is both a double standard and actively puts the entire community at risk.

We appeal to Eastern Michigan University and its President, Dr. James M. Smith, to reassess the policy and require instructors to join with the rest of our campus community in wearing masks, for the safety and protection of all.