The opinions, beliefs, and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect those of the Asbury Collegian or its staff members.
Why are people complaining about wearing masks?
I can think of endless examples of worse things in life besides wearing a mask around a college campus. As a student-athlete, I understand the many minor inconveniences that come up daily.
However, I do not consider wearing a mask to prevent the spread of a sickness that has caused countless deaths and loss worldwide to be at the top of my list of things to be upset about. It’s the least I could do, and I do not mind it whatsoever.
Since the pandemic’s beginning, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have been adjusting guidelines suggested pertaining to COVID-19.
The CDC states, “Wearing a face mask can reduce transmission of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) (2), and many colleges and universities mandate mask use in public locations and outdoors when within six feet of others.”
Asbury has been basing its guidelines on wearing masks on CDC guidelines, with campus tracking and local statistics being considered. Still, the rules they have set in place pertaining to masks are confusing to students.
Brynna Reynolds, a sophomore here at Asbury, said, “We don’t have to wear masks in the library or cafeteria, but they won’t have open-dorm because of COVID. Make it make sense.”
Students don’t understand why we are restricted in certain areas due to the virus, but we have freedoms elsewhere on campus.
An Asbury pandemic-related campus email stated, “As we return from break and begin classes on Monday, we aim to make your transition back to campus as smooth as possible while keeping our students, faculty, and staff healthy.”
I believe the mask mandate on campus is necessary for us to go about school in a typical fashion, but it should be all or nothing. People should wear them in the areas that are recommended by the CDC. We should follow CDC guidelines altogether, or not at all.
Most students at Asbury are involved in extracurricular activities such as sports, clubs, leadership roles or attend churches and functions off-campus. Even if students aren’t engaged in these activities, we all attend classes and go to chapel.
Encountering as many people as we do daily increases our chances of contracting the virus and spreading it even further. Wearing a mask has been scientifically proven to prevent and slow the spread, allowing us to continue our everyday lives as usual. Nobody wants their lives to be interrupted or have opportunities taken away from them.
I have experienced this first-hand, as I am sure many have. I play softball here at Asbury. Not only have I had an entire season snatched out from under me, but I have been in quarantine several times, although I have not contracted the virus.
I decided to get vaccinated. I’ve worn my mask within six feet of others throughout the pandemic and will continue to do so. I made these decisions with my health and safety in mind and others.
It is common knowledge that immunocompromised people are more susceptible to the virus than people in good health. I wear my mask to protect my immunocompromised family, give my teammates the ability to play safely throughout our season, and provide myself with the ability to attend in-person classes and receive the degree that I worked so hard to earn.
I have been on campus, participated in activities and social gatherings outside of school, traveled, played sports, and worked in a healthcare facility consistently without contracting the coronavirus or transmitting it to anyone else.
This gives me every reason to continue wearing a mask, for myself and others.