We faculty members of Boston College write to request a masking mandate in classrooms. In response to the new known and unknown dangers that we now face from the Delta variant of COVID-19, most peer colleges and universities have classroom mask mandates—from Holy Cross to Harvard, Boston University, and many others. Brookline and Newton K-12 schools have a mask mandate, and the mayors of Newton and Boston have issued mask mandates in indoor public spaces.
At this point, BC has decided to return to campus without a mask mandate, except as required in spaces accessible to the general public, as mandated by Boston and Newton. Given the dangers from the Delta variant of COVID-19, and given the measures that are being taken throughout the state and at peer institutions, BC’s policy is difficult for us to understand. BC’s policy appears to impose avoidable risks on faculty, their families, and the students and other clients that they serve, and it introduces unnecessary complexity into classroom relationships.
Faculty members and graduate instructors across the schools and departments of this University have concerns such as:
- According to the CDC, certain vaccinated people remain at increased risk for severe disease from COVID-19, including older adults and those who have certain medical conditions, such as diabetes, obesity, and heart conditions. Many BC faculty and staff, and members of their families, fall in this category. A mask mandate will prioritize their protection.
- A great many colleagues have unvaccinated young children at home, for whom vaccines are not available. A mask mandate will protect these young children, as well as others in the schools that the children attend.
- Many BC students are in academic programs that require in-person contact with unvaccinated children in schools or clinical settings off-campus. Further, Campion Hall is home to the Boston College Campus School, which serves young children with severe special needs who are acutely vulnerable. Mandatory masking in classrooms would help protect these children.
- Some colleagues may be required to consider not teaching in conditions that they feel are excessively risky.
- BC tours, prospective students on self-guided audio tours, and unmonitored access to most buildings on campus means that stairwells, hallways, lounges, restrooms, and classrooms are places where members of the public can enter at will.
- The lack of a mask mandate puts unnecessary pressure on teacher-student relationships. Faculty who wish to implement a mask policy in the classroom are only allowed to make a request, but they may not require masking. This requires extra negotiation between students and teachers and introduces potential stress between participants in a classroom. Many professors will do this creatively and skillfully, but it is an extra step that a mandate would eliminate.
Another set of considerations is that the current COVID-19 prevention policy on BC’s campuses is now formulated in reaction to municipal guidelines, so that policy on the Brighton campus is different from policy on Newton campus, when Newton and Boston policy differ. We would like to see the University prioritize coherence and proactivity in prevention policy, with a mask mandate for all campuses.
Last year, as a community, we met unprecedented challenges with unexpected success, due to diligence, generosity, communication, and genuine care for others. We are optimistic that BC’s community is sufficiently generous, flexible, and intelligent to deal with what arises this year.
Sincerely,
The BC American Association of University Professors Executive Board (Yonder Gillihan, President)
Faculty for Justice
Individual Signatures of Faculty
- Allison Adair, English
- Lillie R. Albert, Lynch School of Education and Human Development
- Emrah Altindis, Biology
- James E. Anderson, Economics
- Lynne Anderson, English
- Stefano Anzellotti, Psychology and Neuroscience
- Angela Ards, English
- Grace Arenas, English
- Anatoly Arlashin, Economics
- James Aronson, Lynch School of Education and Human Development
- Avner Ash, Mathematics
- Sarah Babb, Sociology
- Karl Baden, Art, Art History, and Film
- Susanto Basu, Economics
- Ethan Baxter, Earth and Environmental Sciences
- Sharon Beckman, Law
- Sarah H. Beckjord, Romance Languages and Literatures
- Mark Behn, Earth and Environmental Sciences
- Jennifer Behr, Law
- Juliana Belding, Mathematics
- Dianne Berg, English
- Pamela Berger, Art, Art History, and Film
- Fernando R. Bernava, Romance Languages and Literatures
- Suzanne Berne, English
- Theresa Betancourt, School of Social Work
- Fraser Binns, Mathematics
- Jessica Black, School of Social Work
- Robert Bloom, Law
- Angela Boatman, Lynch School of Education and Human Development
- Amy Boesky, English
- Kristen Bottema-Beutel, Lynch School of Education and Human Development
- Julian Bourg, History
- Cheryl Bratt, Law
- Benjamin Braude, History
- Joe Breines, Romance Languages and Literatures
- Kris Brewer, Art, Art History, and Film
- Martin Bridgeman, Mathematics
- Mark Brodin, Law
- David Broido, Physics
- Robyn Brooks, Mathematics
- Nathaniel Brown, Lynch School of Education and Human Development
- Kenneth Stephen Burch, Physics
- Jane Cassidy, Art, Art History, and Film
- Jacob Caudell, Mathematics
- Ryan Chahrour, Economics
- Abhishek Chatterjee, Chemistry
- Meghna Chaudhuri, History
- Dawei Chen, Mathematics
- Qile Chen, Mathematics
- Xiao Chen, Physics
- Sing-chen Lydia Chiang, Eastern, Slavic, and German Studies
- Mary Ann Chirba, Law
- Paul Christensen, Political Science and International Studies
- Vincent Cho,, Lynch School of Education and Human Development
- Sammy Chong, Art, Art History, and Film
- Paul Cichello, Economics
- Hannah Clay, English
- Peter Clote, Biology
- Marilyn Cochran-Smith, Lynch School of Education and Human Development
- Caleb Cole, Art, Art History, and Film
- Rebekah Levine Coley, Lynch School of Education and Human Development
- Sara Cordes, Psychology and Neuroscience
- Andy Crow, English
- Maria Cruz, Theology
- Allison Curseen, English and African and African Diaspora Studies
- Carrie Cushman, Art, Art History, and Film
- Deanna Malvesti Danforth, English
- Kyrah Malika Daniels, Art History and African and African Diaspora Studies
- Natana J. DeLong-Bas, Theology and Islamic Civilization and Societies
- Charles Derber, Sociology
- Alethea Desrosiers, School of Social Work
- Claire Donohue, Law
- Rebecca Dunn, Biology
- Ikram Easton, Eastern, Slavic, and German Studies
- Joyce K. Edmonds, Connell School of Nursing
- Sarah Ehrich, English
- Hanne Eisenfeld, Classical Studies
- Jan Engelbrecht, Physics
- Can Erbil, Economics
- Jennifer Erickson, Political Science and International Studies
- Wen Fan, Sociology
- Maksym Fedorchuk, Mathematics
- Maggie Ferguson, English
- Emine Fetvaci, Art, Art History and Film
- Robin Fleming, History
- Daniel Fox, Chemistry
- Rhonda Frederick, English and African, and African Diaspora Studies
- Solomon Friedberg, Mathematics
- Vincent Fusaro, School of Social Work
- Gomathy Ganapathy, Mathematics
- Jianmin Gao, Chemistry
- Frank J. Garcia, Law
- Kim Garcia, English
- Zachary Gardner, Mathematics
- Stella Gastineau, Mathematics
- Dacia Gentilella, English
- Yota Gikas, Lynch School of Education and Human Development
- Yohana Gil Berrio, Romance Languages
- Yonder Gillihan, Theology
- Ellen Goldstein, Mathematics
- Lisa Goodman, Lynch School of Education and Human Development
- Michael Graf, Physics
- Elizabeth Graver, English
- Joshua Greene, Mathematics
- Rob Gross, Mathematics
- Nora Gross, Sociology
- Hiba Hafiz, Law
- Laura E. Hake, Biology
- Lori Harrison-Kahan, English
- Joshua K. Hartshorne, Psychology and Neuroscience
- Dean Hashimoto, Law
- Dayton Haskin, English
- Summer Hawkins, School of Social Work
- Kenji Hayao, Political Science
- Andrea Heberlein, Psychology and Neuroscience
- Chris Higgins, Lynch School of Education and Human Development
- Ingrid Michelsen Hillinger, Law
- Nate Hartmann, Chemistry
- Gene Heyman, Psychology andNeuroscience
- Martha Hincks, English
- Mary Ann Hinsdale, IHM, Theology
- Kathleen Hirsch, PULSE and Philosophy
- Meg Holly, English
- Anne Homza, Lynch School of Education and Human Development
- Ben Howard, Mathematics
- Marjorie Howes, English
- Marius Huber, Mathematics
- Aeron Hunt, English
- Kristin Imre, English
- Xin Jin, Mathematics
- Mary Jo Iozzio, School of Theology and Ministry
- Lauri Johnson, Lynch School of Education and Human Development
- Marilynn Johnson, History
- Angie Johnston, Psychology and Neuroscience
- Andrew Jorgenson, Sociology and Environmental Studies
- Alan Kafka, Earth and Environmental Sciences
- Gabor J. Kalman, Physics
- Daniel Kanstroom, Law
- Arielle Kaplan, English
- Thomas Kaplan-Maxfield, English
- Mark Kazarosian, Economics
- Sara Keary, School of Social Work
- Elisabeth Keller, Law
- Melissa M. Kelley, School of Theology and Ministry
- Christopher P. Kenaley, Biology
- Stacie Kent, History
- Oh Myo Kim, Lynch School of Education and Human Development
- Jeeuhn Kim, Mathematics
- Kyoung-yim Kim, Women’s and Gender Studies
- Jonathan Kirshner, Political Science and International Studies
- Peter Krause, Political Science and International Studies
- Seth C. Kruckenberg, Earth and Environmental Sciences
- Masha Krupenkin, Political Science
- Ali Kulez, Romance Languages and Literatures
- Praveen Kumar, School of Social Work
- Amanda Labriola, English
- Michele Lauriat, Art, Art History, and Film
- Robert S. Lehman, English
- Stephanie Leone, Art, Art History, and Film
- Jacqueline Lerner, Lynch School of Education and Human Development
- Arthur Lewbel, Economics
- Paul Lewis, English
- Tao Li, Mathematics
- Zhushan Mandy Li, Lynch School of Education and Human Development
- Tony Lin, Eastern, Slavic, and German Studies
- Kathryn Lindsey, Mathematics
- Vicki Losick, Biology
- Kevin Lotery, Art, Art History, and Film
- Micah Lott, Philosophy
- Rebecca Lowenhaupt, Lynch School of Education and Human Development
- Fang Lu, Eastern, Slavic, and German Studies
- Larry Ludlow, Lynch School of Education and Human Development
- M. Brinton Lykes, Psychology and Lynch School of Education and Human Development
- Ursula Mangoubi, Eastern, Slavic, and German Studies
- Gage Martin, Mathematics
- Paula Mathieu, English
- Suzanne Matson, English
- Zachary Matus, History
- Christina Matz, School of Social Work
- Maia McAleavey, English
- Marina McCoy, Philosophy
- Patricia McCoy, Law
- Michael McDannald, Psychology and Neuroscience
- Cherie McGill, Philosophy
- C. Shawn McGuffey, African and African Diaspora Studies andSociology
- Sheila McIntosh, Romance Languages and Literatures
- Sarah McMenamin, Biology
- Katherine McNeill, Lynch School of Education and Human Development
- Patrick McQuillan, Lynch School of Education and Human Development
- Ken Metz, Chemistry
- Michelle Meyer, Biology
- Robert Meyerhoff, Mathematics
- David Miele, Lynch School of Education and Human Development
- Courtney Pina Miller, English
- Dorothy Miller, English
- Karen K. Miller, History and African and African Diaspora Studies
- Alan Minuskin, Law
- Gilda Morelli, Psychology and Lynch School of Education and Human Development
- Rennie Mirollo, Mathematics
- Rebekah Mitsein, English
- Sean Mitsein, English
- Asako Miyaki, Japanese
- Tobi Moektijono, Mathematics
- Babak Momeni, Biology
- Catherine Mooney, School of Theology and Ministry
- Franco Mormando, Romance Languages
- Julie Holland Mortimer, Economics
- Robert Motley Jr., School of Social Work
- Hanni Myers, Eastern, German, and Slavic Studies
- Stuart Nadler, English
- Nancy Netzer, Art, Art History, and Film
- Joseph Nugent, English
- Lynne O’Connell, Chemistry
- Laura O’Dwyer, Lynch School of Education and Human Development
- Arissa Oh, History
- Kevin Ohi, English
- Heather Olins, Biology
- Erik Owens, Theology and International Studies
- Mariela Paez, Lynch School of Education and Human Development
- Hilary Palevsky, Earth and Environmental Sciences
- Reena Parikh, Law
- Devin Pendas, History
- Azlin Perdomo, Romance Languages
- Gregory Petershack, English
- Stefan Peychev, History
- Stephen Pfohl, Sociology
- Deborah Piatelli, Sociology
- María Piñeros-Leaño, School of Social Work
- Zygmunt Plater, Law
- Christopher Polt, Classical Studies
- Maggi Price, School of Social Work
- Patrick Proctor, Lynch School of Education and Human Development
- Lorenzo Alexander Puente, English
- Keaton Quinn, Mathematics
- Ying Ran, Physics
- Mark Reeder, Mathematics
- Teva Regule, Theology
- Virginia Reinburg, History
- Braeden Reinoso, Mathematics
- Frances Restuccia, English
- Elizabeth Rhodes, Hispanic Studies
- Maureen Ritchey, Psychology and Neuroscience
- Karen Rosen, Psychology and Neuroscience
- Sarah Gwyneth Ross, History
- Heather Rowan-Kenyon, Lynch School of Education and Human Development
- Bonnie Rudner, English
- James Russell, Psychology & Neuroscience
- Michael Russell, Lynch School of Education and Human Development
- Cassie Ryan, Connell School of/Woods College of Advancing Studies
- Matthew S. Rutledge, Economics
- Erika Sabbath, School of Social Work
- Dana Sajdi, History
- Franck Salameh, Eastern, Slavic, and German Studies
- Chandini Sankaran, Economics
- Tom Sapsford, Classical Studies
- Indrani Saran, School of Social Work
- Evangeline Sarda, Law
- Natalia Sarkisian, Sociology
- Robert Savage, History and Irish Studies
- David Scanlon, Lynch School of Education and Human Development
- Margaret Schatkin, Theology
- Fabio Schiantarelli, Economics
- Maren Schiffer, English
- Kay Schlozman, Political Science
- Juliet Schor, Sociology
- Scott Seider, Lynch School of Education and Human Development
- David Shames, Romance Languages
- Vera Sharunova, Economics
- Justin Shatraw, Art, Art History, and Film
- Kalpana Seshadri, English
- Susan Shell, Political Science
- Mary Sherman, Art, Art History, and Film
- Natalya Shnitser, Law
- Dennis Shirley, Lynch School of Education and Human Development
- Dimitar Simeonov, Economics
- Scott Slotnick, Psychology and Neuroscience
- Jim Smith, English
- Marc Snapper, Chemistry
- Noah Snyder, Earth and Environmental Sciences
- Andrew Sofer, English
- Jean-Luc Solère, Philosophy
- Ruth Sondermann, German Studies
- Min Hyoung Song, English
- Eve Spangler, Sociology
- Mark Spiegel, Law
- Marius Stan, Philosophy
- Robert Stanton, English
- Martin Summers, History and African and African Diaspora Studies
- Elizabeth Sutherland, Classical Studies
- Eileen Sweeney, Philosophy
- Meghan Sweeney, Theology and PULSE
- Richard Sweeney, Economics
- Laura Tanner, English
- Catherine Taylor, School of Social Work
- Samantha Teixeira, School of Social Work
- Mark Thatcher, Classical Studies
- Margaret Thomas, Eastern, Slavic, and German Studies
- Mary Troxell, Philosophy
- Mariela Dakova, Slavic Studies
- Usha Tummala-Narra, Counseling, Developmental, and Educational Psychology, Lynch School of Education and Human Development
- Utku Ünver, Economics
- Conevery Bolton Valencius, History
- Ernesto Valiente, School of Theology and Ministry
- Brittney van de Water, Connell School of Nursing
- Maureen Van Neste, Law
- Matthias Waegele, Chemistry
- Dunwei Wang, Chemistry
- Mujie Wang, Mathematics
- Jon M. Wargo, Lynch School of Education and Human Development
- Eranthie Weerapana, Chemistry
- Debra Weisberg, Art, Art History, and Film
- Eric Weiskott, English
- James M. Weiss, Theology
- Lauren Wilwerding, English
- David Wirth, Law, PHCG
- Jamison Wolf, Mathematics
- Kevin Yeh, Mathematics
- Wen Yu, History
- Xiaoqing Yu, Eastern, Slavic, and German Studies
- Ilija Zeljkovic, Physics
- Matthew Zevenbergen, Mathematics
- Peter Zhang, Chemistry
- Huiqing Zhou, Chemistry
- Brian Zimmerman, English
Featured Graphic by Olivia Charbonneau/ Heights Editor
