Miami recently released new Covid-19 guidelines which include a new indoor mask requirement for both unvaccinated and vaccinated individuals. This requirement is not based in science. Young people are not vulnerable to serious harm from Covid-19, making this virus a low risk to Miami’s community compared to other risks that the university has not addressed with such urgency.

In addition to being unnecessary, this mandate removes the key incentive for getting the vaccine: not having to wear a mask. This will harm vaccination rates at Miami and in Butler County, and will potentially cost lives.

We encourage Miami University’s administrators to reconsider this decision. We do not question their motives- we know they are trying to do the right thing. But we hope they will follow the science and end the mask mandate.