Salve Regina University informed its population of the new requirement to receive either the Pfizer, Moderna, or Johnson & Johnson boosters by March 1, 2022. From its community email sent on December 14, 2021 "Salve Regina will require a booster shot for all vaccinated students, faculty and staff by March 1, 2022." Over the summer of 2021, Salve Regina required for all students, faculty, and staff to receive one of the three vaccinations before it was formally approved by the FDA. Many complied with the request and the few who were allowed exemptions were required to get tested twice per week and held to secondary standards of practice at the university. If unvaccinated community members lack to attend more than three days of this twice-per-week testing, they are subject to fines, mandatory educational courses, suspension, and expulsion from the university.

Since Salve Regina's board for COVID-19 has determined one mandatory vaccine, there should not be a requirement for its community to receive the booster. This should be done from the choice of the individual and not forced by the university. Initially, the university should have used this practice for the initial vaccine. Encouragement of a booster shot is greatly welcomed, however it should not be a requirement. Online classes are not offered to current students who do not wish to receive the vaccine, so their ability to attend the university is no longer an option. Upon attending the university, students understood which vaccinations were required to become an in-person student. Forcing its students to receive vaccinations after their agreement and admittance into the university is unjust. Current students who are not willing to receive the vaccination and are not allowed an excemption have now lost their ability to attend this university and the loss of their financial aid. Essentially, the university is segregating those who do not wish to receive additional vaccinations.

This petition is by no means one to halt the number of booster vaccinations at Salve Regina University, but will allow its population to do what is in their best interest, medically.
To the Salve Regina students, parents, faculty, staff, and SRU/Newport community members, please consider the rights of others to have freedom of choice.

The Salve Regina University Mission Statement is as follows: “As a community that welcomes people of all beliefs, Salve Regina University, a Catholic institution founded by the Sisters of Mercy, seeks wisdom and promotes universal justice. The University, through teaching and research, prepares men and women for responsible lives by imparting and expanding knowledge, developing skills, and cultivating enduring values. Through liberal arts and professional programs, students develop their abilities for thinking clearly and creatively, enhance their capacity for sound judgment, and prepare for the challenge of learning throughout their lives. In keeping with the traditions of the Sisters of Mercy, and recognizing that all people are stewards of God’s creation, the University encourages students to work for a world that is harmonious, just, and merciful.”

As held to the high standards of the university, Salve Regina Univeristy’s best interest is to let the students, and other community members, expand upon their values of “thinking clearly and creatively, enhanc[ing] their capacity for sound judgment, and prepar[ing] for the challenge of learning throughout their lives.” This is the opportunity the community has to create their own judgments to live out their universal truth. The decisions made now will impact the community member’s lives indefinitely and they must do what is in their best interest. The reasoning of best interest varies by each individual and that is what is what will cultivate their enduring values upon themselves.

In all, the ability to receive the COVID-19 booster should be a choice and not a forced action. Please receive the booster if you choose, but do not force this task on others who are not comfortable with it.