Erinn Finley
Staff Writer
efinley1@murraystate.edu
Murray State administration lifted the campus mask mandate on Feb. 28, citing new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines that reduce restrictions for communities with low or medium risk.
Jackson said in the email sent out at 10:15 a.m. Murray State will lift its masking requirement effective immediately, but those who want to remain masked can continue to do so.
Executive Director of Marketing and Communication Shawn Touney said the administration also sought out information from the state and the Calloway County Health Department before the decision was made.
“[This] has allowed Murray State University, like many other institutions and organizations across Kentucky, our multi-state region and the entire country, to lift its face mask requirement for all buildings and locations on the Murray campus at this time, strictly adhering to the new CDC Community Transmission Levels,” Touney said.
Touney said the administration will continue to follow all COVID-19 guidance from local, state and federal healthcare professionals, as well as the CDC.
Philomena Hempel, a junior organizational communication major, said she is super pumped about the mask mandate being lifted. Hempel said her sister told her about the email, but she had to check for herself that it was true.
“I was really excited, because the masks made it hard for me to breathe sometimes, and I would get headaches—and strangely enough, heartburn—when I had to wear one for a long time,” Hempel said.
“I work on campus, too, so that meant I had to wear it a lot. It was hard to study in places like the Waterfield Library sometimes because of the side effects I experienced while wearing a mask.”
Hempel said the mask mandate being lifted has helped her in classes because she is hard of hearing, and the masks both muffled voices and removed her ability to read lips. She said she appreciates being able to understand people more easily, especially in her Spanish classes.
Mary Clare Mills, junior public and community health major, said she felt extremely relieved about having the mandate lifted.
“We have been wearing masks for about two years now, so it is exciting that we are making progress in regards to COVID-19,” Mills said. “[It] feels like we are getting back to normal.”
Mills said she was shocked when she received the notification because she assumed the mandate would be in place until the end of the semester, but she agrees with the decision to lift the mandate. She said it is refreshing to be able to see everyone’s faces on campus again.
“I hope we never go back to having a mask mandate,” Mills said. “I think it was a good decision, and if someone does not agree with it they have the option to wear their mask regardless, so hopefully this allows everyone to still feel safe.”
But not all students are comfortable with the decision. Junior advertising major Taylor Moore said she has mixed feelings about lifting the mask mandate.
“It’s discouraging to those of us who have tried our hardest to keep everyone safe and healthy,” Moore said. “I do like getting to see people’s faces again, and I think it makes interactions within our classes a lot easier, but the health and safety of all Racers should be prioritized first, especially because Zoom options are barely being offered anymore.”
When in classrooms or in public spaces like dining services, Moore said she will remain masked. However, when she is around vaccinated individuals, she said she’ll choose to take her mask off.
“I came to Murray State when COVID was really picking up, and I don’t feel like I’ve had a very normal college experience, so getting to take off the masks is one step in that direction,” Moore said. “[COVID-19] hasn’t slowed down, people are just getting tired of it, which I completely understand. Parties and classes are going to continue and people who are unmasked and unvaccinated are more likely to get seriously sick. It really is a hard decision to make.”
David Pizzo, history professor and faculty senate member, questioned the administration about the time of the announcement during the Faculty Senate meeting.
Pizzo said he understood the decision, but from the faculty perspective, the announcement seemed abrupt. He said he ultimately wanted more communication from administration.
“I absolutely understand why the masks are gone,” Pizzo said, “We got, as you know, an email and a text in the middle of a class period. In the middle of classes, [students] were whipping their masks off, and I get that. It was this moment of freedom for them and they were so happy … I think this was coming at some point, but why did it not come at the end of the workday?”
Provost Tim Todd said he advised Jackson on when to send out the announcement.
“The president sought advice, he got advice, and advice I gave him falls on me,” Todd said. “Let me take that [responsibility].”
Jackson said in the email if Calloway County returns to a “high” community risk level, the mask mandate will be reinstated on campus.
Check the CDC’s “Know Your COVID-19 Community Level” to see what is recommended for each specific community.