The University of Regina and the University of Saskatchewan announced vaccine requirements, but not all students are happy about it..Both universities made the announcements Friday in press releases, claiming low vaccination rates of those under 30 made the move necessary. The U of R will require faculty, staff, and students had to be fully vaccinated by October 1..“Similar vaccine requirements are being implemented at several other post-secondary institutions across the country,” said president and vice-chancellor, Dr. Jeff Keshen..“The University of Regina is confident … we can reduce the transmission of COVID-19 on our campuses and in our communities.”.The press release claimed the decision followed “a consultative process with Federated Colleges, campus union groups (URFA and CUPE), the University of Regina Students’ Union (URSU), and with the support of the board of governors.”.Mask mandates and social distancing will continue as will vaccine clinics on campus..Third-year U of R kinesiology student “Chelsea Dawn” took to Facebook to vent under her pseudonym..“So frustrating. My job harasses me every day about getting the vax. Now my university is making me get the vax. Thinking about becoming a lawyer now, switching my degree,” she posted in a group..In comments shared solely with Western Standard, Dawn explained her reasons..“I am not taking the vaccine because it is not approved; it is currently in emergency approval state. When a vaccination gets approved, it’s proof it has undergone rigorous testing. I know this rigorous testing has not been done, as Covid-19 has not been around for even two years (introduced March 2020),” she said..“I also do not approve of having aborted fetal cells in any vaccine, this collides with my moral code. As well, I know several people who have lost their lives after taking the vaccine (I know four people for sure),” said the student who’s still not sure what to do this fall..“Hopefully universities will redact their statements and allow students without the MRNA shot to attend. Exclusion is never a good policy; much like you could not exclude only pregnant or Syrian students, students without the COVID-19 shot cannot be excluded. Hopefully medical/religious/legal exemptions are honored. If not, then I will transfer to a university (that) does not discriminate.”.The University of Saskatchewan can’t offer Dawn much either. It will require the first vaccination by Sept. 7 and the second by Oct. 18. Those unable or unwilling to comply must provide regular and frequent negative COVID-19 test results and submit a daily symptom checklist to access campuses..“Consultations with other Canadian institutions, USask faculty, and legal and public health experts have contributed to this decision,” USask said in a news release..The university released Dr. Francis Christian as a professor of surgery for the coming fall for his public opposition to the vaccination of high school students with inadequate consent. Despite the publicity of Christian’s activism and dismissal, USask President Peter Stoicheff suggested the prevailing narrative is beyond dispute..“The science is unequivocal and overwhelming: vaccinations are the clearest path to beating COVID-19 and its dangerous variants. We are eager to resume as much in-person teaching, learning and research as we possibly can by January. Only widespread vaccination and testing throughout our campuses can make this happen,” Stoicheff said..“The health and safety of our campuses is a shared responsibility that requires all members of our university community to do their part. These new measures are endorsed by the university’s senior leadership and our board of governors. I am confident these new measures will further protect the health and safety of our university community and of communities beyond.”.Lee Harding is a Western Standard correspondent living in Saskatchewan and a U of R journalism school alumnus.
The University of Regina and the University of Saskatchewan announced vaccine requirements, but not all students are happy about it..Both universities made the announcements Friday in press releases, claiming low vaccination rates of those under 30 made the move necessary. The U of R will require faculty, staff, and students had to be fully vaccinated by October 1..“Similar vaccine requirements are being implemented at several other post-secondary institutions across the country,” said president and vice-chancellor, Dr. Jeff Keshen..“The University of Regina is confident … we can reduce the transmission of COVID-19 on our campuses and in our communities.”.The press release claimed the decision followed “a consultative process with Federated Colleges, campus union groups (URFA and CUPE), the University of Regina Students’ Union (URSU), and with the support of the board of governors.”.Mask mandates and social distancing will continue as will vaccine clinics on campus..Third-year U of R kinesiology student “Chelsea Dawn” took to Facebook to vent under her pseudonym..“So frustrating. My job harasses me every day about getting the vax. Now my university is making me get the vax. Thinking about becoming a lawyer now, switching my degree,” she posted in a group..In comments shared solely with Western Standard, Dawn explained her reasons..“I am not taking the vaccine because it is not approved; it is currently in emergency approval state. When a vaccination gets approved, it’s proof it has undergone rigorous testing. I know this rigorous testing has not been done, as Covid-19 has not been around for even two years (introduced March 2020),” she said..“I also do not approve of having aborted fetal cells in any vaccine, this collides with my moral code. As well, I know several people who have lost their lives after taking the vaccine (I know four people for sure),” said the student who’s still not sure what to do this fall..“Hopefully universities will redact their statements and allow students without the MRNA shot to attend. Exclusion is never a good policy; much like you could not exclude only pregnant or Syrian students, students without the COVID-19 shot cannot be excluded. Hopefully medical/religious/legal exemptions are honored. If not, then I will transfer to a university (that) does not discriminate.”.The University of Saskatchewan can’t offer Dawn much either. It will require the first vaccination by Sept. 7 and the second by Oct. 18. Those unable or unwilling to comply must provide regular and frequent negative COVID-19 test results and submit a daily symptom checklist to access campuses..“Consultations with other Canadian institutions, USask faculty, and legal and public health experts have contributed to this decision,” USask said in a news release..The university released Dr. Francis Christian as a professor of surgery for the coming fall for his public opposition to the vaccination of high school students with inadequate consent. Despite the publicity of Christian’s activism and dismissal, USask President Peter Stoicheff suggested the prevailing narrative is beyond dispute..“The science is unequivocal and overwhelming: vaccinations are the clearest path to beating COVID-19 and its dangerous variants. We are eager to resume as much in-person teaching, learning and research as we possibly can by January. Only widespread vaccination and testing throughout our campuses can make this happen,” Stoicheff said..“The health and safety of our campuses is a shared responsibility that requires all members of our university community to do their part. These new measures are endorsed by the university’s senior leadership and our board of governors. I am confident these new measures will further protect the health and safety of our university community and of communities beyond.”.Lee Harding is a Western Standard correspondent living in Saskatchewan and a U of R journalism school alumnus.
