I appreciate the fact that you, as members of the governing board of the University System of Georgia, have the very difficult job of making important decisions affecting tens of thousands of students, staff, and faculty. These decisions also impact Georgia’s economic viability. Our colleges and universities are thriving institutions and are a major reason companies, not-for-profits and other organizations “keep Georgia on their mind” and continue to locate here from all over the globe.
Georgia and the capital city Atlanta are special places. Leaders have frequently succeeded in promoting the state’s success ahead of other considerations. This did not occur in most of the other states in the region. In challenging times, Georgia leaders have been able to make wise decisions that have made the state’s capital a world-class city. As Georgia leaders during this crucial time in our state’s history, your continued successful governance of our colleges and universities is essential to the future success of Georgia.
However, the Board Of Regents’ current policy of refusing to make masks and vaccinations mandatory is contrary to previous wise decisions that have increased our state’s viability. A policy putting the health and lives of students, staff, faculty, and their family, friends, and neighbors in jeopardy is troubling, and in a broader sense, it threatens the success of all USG institutions as well as the continued economic success of Georgia. And it stands in contrast to how the lives of students, staff, and faculty at elite private colleges and universities appear to be valued more because these places have comprehensive COVID-19 safety policies in place.
Though many are disappointed with your decision, people remain hopeful. When the pandemic began, you were wise to follow the science. In March of 2020, you suspended in-person instruction in the interest of promoting public health and safety. You made a similar pro-health policy just before the start of the fall 2020 semester when you reversed your policy on masks and thus required face coverings on all 26 USG campuses.
Now, given the rapidly rising number of cases in the state due to the delta variant, with numerous unmasked and unvaccinated individuals on campuses, students, staff and faculty may actually be more vulnerable to COVID this fall.
Therefore, I fervently believe that the University System of Georgia’s requirement that the students, staff and faculty function in environments where masks, vaccinations, and COVID testing are not required is neither prudent nor safe. I fear all who are complicit in carrying out a policy likely to cause additional illness and death will be held accountable. That puts those who personally oppose the policy in the painful position of having to say, “We are/were only following orders.”
Based on your thoughtful past actions noted above regarding COVID policies, I will remain hopeful you will again re-examine the facts and reflect on current circumstances and craft policies providing greater protection from COVID for the students, staff and faculty of the University System of Georgia.
Sincerely,
PAUL D. GRANT, PH.D., CO-PRESIDENT, UNITED CAMPUS WORKERS OF GEORGIA
