Mask Mandate Lifted at High Point University Causing Mixed Emotions Across Campus
By Cassandra Mischak
Q News
On Monday, November 15 at 7:37 p.m., High Point University, located in Guilford County, North Carolina, was informed by the county commissioners that the mask mandate for COVID-19 precaution was lifted. However, this left everybody on the HPU campus with mixed feelings.
The university left it up to all students, faculty members and staff to make their own choice regarding mask wearing. However, HPU will not require masks to be worn inside of buildings and classrooms. HPU still continues to enforce taking precautions to ensure both individual health and the health of others.
Students
Most HPU students initially reacted happy and relieved after acquiring this news, but others were disappointed with the county's decision.
HPU sophomore, Sara Fallon, started her college career during the midst of this COVID-19 pandemic, so she was elated when she was in her 6:45p.m.0 biology class when she received the email from the university that the mask mandate was officially lifted. She instantly removed her mask along with her professor and several other classmates that felt the same way.
“Ever since entering my freshman year last August, we’ve been required to wear our masks around campus and in the classrooms,” said Fallon. “Honestly, every time we weren’t in our own dorms. This played a major factor in not having a normal college experience. Now that the county ruled a vote to lift this mandate, I could not be more thrilled to begin having a normal way of life around campus.”
Another HPU sophomore, Melina Meraklis, believes much differently. Meraklis suffers daily from many underlying diseases including mold poisoning, lymes disease and most affecting, an autoimmune deficiency. Meraklis has been suffering from these three life-altering illnesses since 2016.
“During the COVID-19 pandemic, I had to be extra cautious than the average citizen due to my auto immune deficiency,” said Meraklis. “I am only 20-years-old, and if I were to catch the virus, I would be in a serious health crisis that could even result in death. Being forced to wear masks throughout my entire college experience here at HPU has saved me multiple times from catching the spread of this virus. There were many times where people would laugh and make fun of me for always wearing mine properly, but I had to for the sake of my own health. Now that we are not required to wear one, I can still get the virus from other people in class who are not wearing a mask much easier. My health is now at high risk.”
Faculty
Many professors have different thoughts and opinions on this new way of life. Most of them have been teaching at HPU before, during and now after the course of the pandemic.
Dr. Carl Helsing, a Religion and Philosophy professor, has been teaching at the university for over five years, and has even traveled overseas to other countries throughout his teaching career to expand his knowledge.
“When I first found out that the mask mandate was lifted, I was in shock,” said Helsing. “I knew it would happen soon, but I definitely was not expecting it that day. I personally chose to not teach with a mask now that we are given an option, but I understand and respect any student or other faculty member that still chooses to do so.”
Staff
Ranging from cafeteria workers, landscapers, maintenance and hospitality services, each staff member reacts differently to the lifting of the mask mandate. Some still chose to wear a mask, where others do not.
Caroline Ford, a member of the Campus Concierge team, has been working here since the fall of the 2020 school year every day.
“I still chose to wear my mask to work even though it is not required because I work with many different people on this campus and want to respect each individual,” said Ford. “You never know who feels comfortable talking or working with someone if they aren’t wearing a face covering, and I want to empathize with that since there are so many different outlooks on this mandate. The reason I chose to do this is because of an experience I encountered with a student. One day, while I was helping a student with her verification of her passport, my mask was placed below my nose. When she was less than six feet apart from me, she politely asked me to pull it over my nose because she was at high-risk due to an immunity deficiency she suffers from. Ever since that day, I will always wear my mask to work.”
Ford believes that the rest of the staff working on her team feels the same way. She shared with them her experience, and they all agreed to do the same.
External Links
The City of High Point Lifts the Mask Mandate
Universities Begin to Lift the Mask Mandate in Classrooms
Sources
Student:
Sara Fallon (207-233-9722)
Melina Meraklis (443-301-6113)
Faculty:
Dr. Carl Helsing ( (336-841-2975) chelsing@highpoint.edu)
Staff:
Caroline Ford ( (336-841-4636) cford@highpoint.edu)
