This petition is to require Penn State fans to be either vaccinated or show a negative COVID test prior to stadium entry during home games during the 2021 football season. 

This weekend, Sandy Barbor said, "Our campus leadership really felt like the position we've taken is one that balances to the highest degree, health and safety as well as a personal choice."

This contradictory statement does not support a mission that Sandy Barbour and her athletic department have tried to foster, which is a Penn State community that is supportive of one another. It instead incentivizes people who did not get the vaccine or are not taking proper steps to protect that community to come to games. 

It is clear that the value of a season ticket holder is greater to Sandy Barbour than protecting and fostering a healthy, strong community that joins together. It is disrespectful to James Franklin's team and the other student-athletes on campus that have taken great strides to protect the community at large by getting vaccinated, again contradictory to what other leaders in PA have said.

If Penn State truly wants to be a leader in college athletics, then it should require either a negative COVID test or a vaccine proof like professional sports teams and universities are doing around the country. 

While the vaccine is readily available throughout the region, to help get Penn State fans vaccinated, fans who are not vaccinated should be able to get vaccinated inside Beaver Stadium prior to games.

At the end of the day,  this is about helping protect Penn State community. If Penn State truly wants to be a leader, now is the opportunity to do so. 

We Are, 

Darian Somers 

College of Communication, 2016