Western University in London, ON, will continue to require people to wear masks in select areas on campus until the fall term ends. .“This decision is driven by our desire to protect the in-person learning environment,” said Western Provost and Vice-president Florentine Strzelczyk in a Monday letter. .“We also want individuals who are at a greater risk to remain safe in class.” .The letter said medical grade masks will continue to be required in classrooms, seminar rooms, and labs. It said one change is research lab heads can make their own decisions about masking based on particular environments. .The letter went to say safety ambassadors will monitor classrooms to ensure mask mandates are being followed. .Masks remain available at all Western library locations. New mask dispensing units are located outside some of the university’s largest classrooms. .Western confirmed in August it will require students and staff to have taken a COVID-19 booster shot to come to campus, and they will have to be masked in classrooms and seminar rooms. .READ MORE: Ontario university enacts COVID-19 booster mandate, reinstates mask requirement.“While we can’t predict when the next wave of COVID-19 might come, we believe these measures will help us protect the in-person experience that Western is known for,” said Strzelczyk. .“We want to do everything we can to offer our students a great on-campus experience throughout the academic year.” .The Democracy Fund (TDF) announced September 30 on behalf of multiple Western students it will appeal the decision of an Ontario Superior Court judge, which rejected their claim the school’s collection of COVID-19 proof of vaccination violated privacy laws. .READ MORE: Western students to appeal decision on privacy rights and booster policy."The applicable section of FIPPA (Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act) exists to remedy the erosion of individual privacy at the hands of institutions eager to collect personal information,” said TDF lawyer Mark Joseph..“It should not be the case that an institution can get around specific prohibitions against collecting private information by simply drafting a policy authorizing it and then calling that policy its 'activity.’”
