Students, Faculty Ask Georgia’s Public Colleges To Require Face Coverings

The University System of Georgia (USG) says it will “strongly encourage,” but won’t require, students and staff to wear face coverings when classes resume fall semester. Some professors and students say that doesn’t go far enough. More than 7,000 faculty, staff, and students from across the university system have signed a petition asking USG to reverse course and require face coverings. Some students and faculty have also been outspoken about the issue on social media.

Elevating the Curve?

Georgia’s coronavirus cases are on the rise, and  Gov. Brian Kemp has toured the state this week urging Georgians to wear masks in public. Still, Kemp says he won’t mandate them for now. The university system won’t either. That makes Georgia an outlier, says University of Georgia psychology professor Janet Frick.

“When you look at our surrounding, very red states, those states don’t have a statewide mandate, but on college campuses, they are still requiring that,” Frick says. “So it is within the power of Chancellor Steve Wrigley and the Board of Regents to issue a mandate as best practice for campuses. They have that authority. It’s not governor Kemp, it’s the Board of Regents.”