Texas Tech’s in-person classes may be back in full swing this semester but with an updated set of COVID-19 policies and procedures.
One of those changes was no longer mandating masks for students on campus. These changes were announced by the Office of the Provost on Aug. 13.
While masks are no longer mandated in indoor or outdoor areas, the University has strongly recommended students wear masks while in the classroom.
“With COVID-19 still a threat, we strongly encourage masks to be worn in classrooms and indoor pubic settings so that we can protect our fellow Red Raiders,” the University Facebook page states.
As seen by the reactions and comments on this post, this is a hot-button issue on campus. Some students are for masks being mandated, and some are against a mandate.
Senior Social Work major Andres Cantu said regardless of the new regulations, he was relieved to come back on campus after spending two semesters online.
“I figured that by now Tech would’ve went back to being online because the cases that are rising,” Cantu said, “but they didn’t.”
Cantu mentioned some of his previous classes did go partially online, but most were trying to get back to face-to-face instruction.
On the topic of the mask mandate, Cantu said he thought the university made the right decision to not mandate masks because he believes everyone has their own choice to make.
“To wear a mask or not is completely up to them,” Cantu said about the student population. “I like the way they did that.”
He said as a fully-vaccinated adult, he feels safe around campus and respects everyone’s choice.
Cantu said the university is providing other precautions to help stop the spread, including spacing out classrooms.
“I’ve been in certain classes where they only allow certain seats to be filled,” Cantu said.
He goes on to mention the splitting of large classes into different sections to decrease the number of students in one room. Cantu also spoke about how the University has provided plenty of resources for students to protect themselves from the virus, including vaccinations locations and testing sites.
“I think the incentive program they are using is really good,” Cantu said. “(TTU) really stepped up to the plate answering any questions that anyone has had.”
The University is offering incentives for students who receive the vaccine, including up to $1,000 in scholarship money.
Miguel Junco, a senior at Texas Tech, said he does not always feel safe when walking through common areas of campus, such as the Student Union Building.
“I felt really, really unsafe,” Junco said. “I did not like it at all.”
Junco talked about losing family members to COVID-19, and the impact this had on him. He said it was disappointing to see no mask-mandates when back on campus. Junco also said the university has provided many resources for COVID-19, but needs to be more vocal about them.
“Students need to know that if anything were to happen to them, they have the campus and they have people they can rely on,” Junco said.
When asked about possibly moving back online, Junco said he would not personally benefit from this, as he gets more out of in-person classes. He mentioned if the cases continue to rise then he would at least like the option to move online.
“I am one of those people who I am negatively impacted if it goes fully online,” Junco said, “but I would rather that than the trend we are continuing to see.”
The announcement from the Office of the Provost notes that the university will update regulations and guidelines as the semester continues, citing the rise of the Delta variant.
The letter also mentions how faculty are not required to wear face coverings, but they may be encouraged to do so for indoor settings.
Senior Advisor Adrienne Scales said she will be wearing her mask in order to protect herself and her family. She said although they are not mandated, she thinks it is necessary to slow the spread in any way possible.
“My health and safety are uttermost important to me,” Scales said.
Scales said she believes the University has done a notable job in providing COVID-19 services on campus, but there is only so much that can be done.
“Understand, they can only do so much,” Scales said with a laugh. “They are following the guidelines of everyone above them.”
The senior advisor said although masks are not mandated, students and faculty should think about the risk that it can pose for family, friends, and others around campus.
“You’ve got an opportunity to save your life,” Scales said, “so why won’t you do it?”
The City of Lubbock COVID dashboard shows that cases have been on the rise since students have returned to schools. Other universities, like Rice, TCU, SMU and others mandated masks as of early September, according to University Business.
While there have been no major changes in COVID-19 regulations thus far, University officials said they will update guidelines as the semester progresses.
“I got to do what I got to do for me,” Scales said, “maybe that’s selfish on my part but I can’t worry about everyone else.”
Read the letter from the Office of the Provost here.
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