{"id":74959,"date":"2020-07-28T00:08:23","date_gmt":"2020-07-28T04:08:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thecollegefix.com\/?p=74959"},"modified":"2020-07-27T22:10:45","modified_gmt":"2020-07-28T02:10:45","slug":"university-of-georgia-system-mandates-everyone-on-all-26-campuses-wear-masks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thecollegefix.com\/university-of-georgia-system-mandates-everyone-on-all-26-campuses-wear-masks\/","title":{"rendered":"University of Georgia system mandates everyone on all 26 campuses wear masks"},"content":{"rendered":"

‘Voluntary compliance is critical,’ says flagship campus<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

The massive University of Georgia system<\/a> recently announced that it will require everyone on campus to wear masks when indoors.<\/p>\n

The university system, which comprises 26 public universities across the state and enrolls roughly 330,000 students, announced the new guidelines July 6.<\/p>\n

The rule became effective July 15 and is meant to encompass faculty, staff, students, employees and visitors.<\/p>\n

The new rules require face coverings while \u201cinside campus facilities\/buildings where six feet social distancing may not always be possible\u201d but face coverings are not required in someone\u2019s own dorm room or \u201cin campus outdoor settings where social distancing requirements are met,\u201d according to an announcement on the university system\u2019s coronavirus update page<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnyone not using a face covering when required will be asked to wear one or must leave the area. Repeated refusal to comply with the requirement may result in discipline through the applicable conduct code for faculty, staff or students,\u201d the system\u2019s guidelines state.<\/p>\n

Greg Trevor, a spokesman for the flagship University of Georgia campus, told The College Fix<\/em> officials are preparing for a return to campus this fall.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll members of our community should take responsibility for their actions and adhere to guidelines of the GDPH, the CDC, as well as guidelines issued by the USG and UGA to protect themselves and others while helping to contain the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus. Voluntary compliance is critical,\u201d he said via email.<\/p>\n

When asked how the university planned to enforce the mask mandate, Trevor told The Fix<\/em> that \u201cCOVID-19 Student Educational and Response Team (CO-SERT) is a temporary collaborative team at UGA, charged and led by Student Affairs, to provide a central point of contact, review, and response or referral on identified questions and concerns involving students and COVID-19 health and safety guidelines.\u201d<\/p>\n

Trevor also cited a guide<\/a> describing the new CO-SERT team. One of its powers is to utilize for rule breakers some sort of \u201ctemporary hold to support an educational response or referral.\u201d<\/p>\n

MORE: Tulane pledges to punish students who break coronavirus party rules<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

The decision by the system to mandate masks came after public pressure from the United Campus Workers of Georgia and the American Association of University Professors\u2019 Georgia affiliate. Both groups publicly advocated for an all-encompassing mask mandate.<\/p>\n

The United Campus Workers, which represent staff across the UGA system, collected thousands of signatures in support of a mask mandate, according to a Change.org petition<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cMasks will be provided and required for all of the campus community,\u201d the petition stated. \u201cFaculty, staff and students will collaborate on COVID-19 prevention enforcement procedures without involvement of the campus police.\u201d<\/p>\n

The petition did not want campus police involved in enforcement, however: \u201cGiven the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 as well as policing on communities of color, especially Black communities, this policy is a bare minimum to make the verbal commitment to diversity and equity on our campuses concrete.\u201d<\/p>\n

The United Campus Workers of Georgia did not respond to multiple requests from The College Fix<\/em> for comment on how it wanted the mask mandate enforced without the use of campus police or if it had any concerns about their own members being disciplined for not wearing masks.<\/p>\n

\n

We couldn\u2019t have done it without the students, parents, faculty, and staff who have called, emailed, and pushed the Board of Regents. Thank you. pic.twitter.com\/ERWwLvoLQM<\/a><\/p>\n

— #MaskOn USG (@Masks4Usg) July 6, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n