LSU faculty and staff members expressed their concerns this morning over the pandemic especially with only 34% of the students reportedly vaccinated. They want to have the option to return to a virtual classroom or limit in-person capacity to 50%. Kevin Yua, Coordinator of LSU World Languages, Literatures and Cultures told school leaders that previous mitigation rules weren’t always followed.
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“They are concerned about its enforcement as well as the violate situation of the overall pandemic. Faculty and staff members brought up that mask mandates instituted throughout last year were not always properly enforced,” said Yua.
LSU President William Tate told faculty at the meeting that once the vaccine receives full FDA approval, he intends to issue a vaccine mandate.
History Professor Meredith Veldman questioned school leaders over their true concern for the safety of the university’s students and staff when a statement on their website claims it’s a priority, yet their actions do not.
“The policy that President Tate announced last week for this fall ignores the recommendations of the CDC and the president’s own advisory committee and calls for a return to classes at 100% occupancy,” said Veldman.
Veldman said President Tate should follow the science and allow instructors to choose their teaching modes, 100-percent remote, hybrid with 50-percent occupancy for its on-campus component, or in-person with 50-percent capacity. She said the pandemic is at worse levels now than it ever was in spring 2020 when the school went entirely remote.
“It is unconscionable that the administration would ask faculty, staff, and students for a full return to campus under these dangerous conditions,” said Veldman.
There was no official response from the board to faculty members.