To preface, the mask mandate at Appalachian State University has been working very well. As stated by the Chancellor herself, "There are currently fewer than 20 active cases among App State students, faculty and staff." 

By removing the mask mandate indoors, Chancellor Everts is WILLINGLY putting her students and faculty at risk. Many students and faculty have disabilities and/or factors that put them at higher risk for severe Covid symptoms and/or DEATH.

Many students came to campus this semester under the pretense that masks would be mandatory for all in-person classes and any indoor building, so removing them halfway through the second semester is unfair to the students. Many professors who may now want to move to online-only classes were not initially planning to move to this form of teaching; not allowing them to plan a fully online class impedes the education of the student body.

In the Chancellor's priorities list, she claims a priority is "improving wellness, health and safety for our campus community," yet changing the mask mandate on-campus DIRECTLY OPPOSES THIS.

By signing this petition, you are saying that you want the mask mandate to STAY at Appalachian State University.