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UChicago Fails to Clarify Reasoning Behind Continued Masking in Classrooms

John KolettisbyJohn Kolettis
March 18, 2022
in News
Reading Time: 2 mins read
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UChicago Fails to Clarify Reasoning Behind Continued Masking in Classrooms
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On March 4th, the University of Chicago ended its on-campus mask requirement for “most non-medical campus office settings, on-campus residence halls, retail stores, and dining spaces.” However, the university has still required masks in classrooms during instruction until the end of Winter Quarter.

As reported by the Chicago Thinker, no explanation was given for this discrepancy other than “to maintain continuity for students and instructors in classroom settings.”

The Thinker contacted the university for an official statement on its new policy, seeking clarification on the meaning of the phrase “to maintain continuity.” The Thinker also asked the university to explain its criteria for making some spaces mask-optional and others mask-required, given that the rules appear arbitrary when considering that dorms, dining halls, and libraries have much higher traffic than classrooms.

In its response to the Thinker, the university refused to address either of these questions, instead repeating vague statements.

“The University’s intention is to maintain a consistent masking policy in classrooms through the end of the quarter,” wrote university spokesperson Gerald McSwiggan (who has still yet to respond to the Chicago Thinker’s request for comment on a discriminatory dining hall policy). 

McSwiggan added, “The policy applies to instructional spaces during instruction, including lab activities that are part of a registered course. Speakers may pull down their mask temporarily while actively speaking or presenting in order to be heard or understood.”

Throughout the pandemic, the university has maintained that policy decisions would be based on the guidance of “experts at UChicago Medicine,” which the university has failed to make available to the public. Additionally, by keeping the mask mandate in classrooms, the university deviates from the guidance of the City of Chicago, which ended its indoor mask requirement on February 28th.

As of now, questions remain unanswered. If the university is concerned with maintaining “continuity,” why was the mask mandate lifted in some indoor spaces but not others? What distinguishes classrooms as needing “continuity” while dorms and libraries do not? And what exactly does the university even mean by “continuity”?

Tags: ChicagoclassroomsCOVIDCOVID decreesCOVID policyCOVID-19mandatemask mandatemask policymaskspolicyThe University of ChicagoUChicagoUChicago AdministrationUniversity of Chicago
John Kolettis

John Kolettis

John Kolettis, a Chicago Thinker editor, is a second-year student at the University of Chicago majoring in economics and political science with a minor in classics. John is a proud Floridian who plans to enter real estate and development after college. In his free time, John likes watching the Chicago Bears, hiking, and SCUBA Diving. He can be reached by email at jgkolettis@uchicago.edu.

Comments 6

  1. Shaka Bärnolde says:
    11 months ago

    Wow John, very insightful! Thank you for bringing a different perspective to light in these unprecedented times.

  2. UChicago says:
    11 months ago

    UChicago

    UChicago

  3. zoritoler imol says:
    10 months ago

    Hiya, I’m really glad I have found this info. Today bloggers publish just about gossips and web and this is really annoying. A good web site with exciting content, this is what I need. Thanks for keeping this web-site, I will be visiting it. Do you do newsletters? Can not find it.

  4. Mock Mask says:
    10 months ago

    Punch holes in the surgical mask with a hole punch …mock the mask….the University is not the health dept…they have no credentials to determine whether a Modified Surgical mask with bigger holes is not a surgical mask……a surgical mask has tiny holes, correct……how else could you breath..you made them holes bigger that’s all…it’s still a surgical alternative mask
    They might say it doesn’t stop spread of covid with big holes….well first they must prove you have covid to spread….try proving causation University….good luck with that.
    Mock the mask.

  5. graliontorile says:
    10 months ago

    Whats Taking place i am new to this, I stumbled upon this I’ve found It positively useful and it has aided me out loads. I hope to give a contribution & aid other customers like its helped me. Good job.

  6. Another UChicago student says:
    10 months ago

    Idk man, sometimes things are as simple as they seem. Admin probably wanted to get their recommendations inline with Illinois DPH ASAP but given that classes are the largest (official) indoor gatherings that most students go to, maybe they wanted to give people some time in advance. Not everything has some secret dark explanation about how leftist bureaucrats are trying to control your mind or whatever.

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