Western University recently announced that they are requiring masks again on campus, after announcing on June 29th 2022 that they will not require masks. Moreover, students are now being forced to receive a booster shot, as well as being fully vaccinated, and to upload it to the university by October 1st to be able to receive the education for which they have paid thousands of dollars. 

Many students that attend campus this fall may choose to NOT wear a mask or receive a booster shot as is their right. However, this now means they cannot access the education THEY HAVE PAID FOR after October 1st. Why would Western wait until after tuition was released to then announce this outrageous mandate that is not even a legal requirement as of August 22, 2022?

"On March 21, 2022 mandatory mask requirements dropped for workplaces, offices and other settings in Ontario. Masks are no longer required in schools, restaurants and bars, gyms and movie theatres across the province" (https://stlawyers.ca/blog-news/ontario-mask-mandates-the-facts/ 

It's time for a REAL CHANGE. Following science and leading by example is the best way to move forward. Masks are not required in any public spaces for a reason and requiring students to have their booster shot to receive their paid-for education is unfair, unjust, and discriminatory.  

Western, your students have paid large sums of money to obtain their education. Your decisions are not protecting the safety of students but merely damaging their mental health, adding unnecessary stress, and significantly impacting their right to their education.

At the very least, tuition refunds should be offered past Sept. 17th to students who have already paid for their tuition for this 2022 fall term and who want to leave Western as a result of these mandates that were announced AFTER tuition fees were in place. (Refund info here: https://registrar.uwo.ca/student_finances/fees_refunds/fee_refund_schedules.html 

Sign the petition if you want Western to actually make better decisions with students at the forefront of those decisions, and to stop negatively impacting the way students receive their education. The mental health damage, negative impact on students' livelihoods and added stress significantly deters students from wanting to attend Western. 

This needs to change. Now. 

We are calling on Western University to re-consider and revoke their mandate as soon as possible. Students should NOT be required to submit proof of a Covid-19 booster shot to receive their education and should NOT be required to wear masks on campus as it is unconstitutional. 

More Western Petitions:

https://www.change.org/p/end-western-university-covid-19-mandates?recruiter=942469105&recruited_by_id=faa003d0-474f-11e9-95f1-b5eace132e3b&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=copylink&utm_campaign=petition_dashboard