Russ's Ravings: All Colleges Should Mandate Vaccines

Editor's note: The following is Patch Field Editor Russ Crespolini's, hopefully, weekly column. It is reflective of his opinion alone.

I am not a big fan of mandating things but in the case of colleges and universities they need to mandate COVID-19 vaccinations for everyone who lives, works or attends in-person classes on campus for the fall semester.

Because to do anything else would risk their solvency, quality and exacerbate an already challenging enrollment problem. The last few years saw an anti-intellectual movement sweep the nation as colleges and universities were targeted for perceived elitist views and the thought of higher education was subtly and no-so-subtlety disrespected.

Not all of this was unearned. Some schools tried to change their modus operandi, opening up manufacturing education centers and attempting to compete with the business of trade schools which were being touted as a better alternative to a college education.

This is, in part, true. I am the son of a mechanic and a nurse who went to trade schools and they are by far the most competent and intelligent people I have ever encountered in the work force. I have two advanced degrees and many of my readers and colleagues, not without merit, think I am an idiot.

So when the pandemic hit, many schools were already dealing with shrinking numbers. And this did not make the situation any better. Even when schools pivoted to online learning they faced an uphill battle. Why would someone pay tuition for an online class for a school struggling to figure it out for the first time? Especially when there were other online-only schools who had perfected the distance learning.

And for those who did a hybrid for their classes it was even worse, attempting to teach to both students in front of you, masked and other students through a camera...who often were laying in bed...diluted the experience.

When Rutgers made the decision to mandate vaccines for students living on campus in the fall, I had a pretty simple reaction.

"Duh."

Why wouldn't they? It isn't as if mandating vaccines is something new for schools. They have been doing it to varying degrees for years. And they have been doing it because they know that mixing college students in dorms and campus life situations is a breeding ground for infections.

They are the most at-risk population in the pandemic currently because they have such a low compliance rate. They believe they are invincible, and are more likely to take risks with their health.

My God, I struggle to get my students to put on a shirt and keep their camera on for the complete class period. I know for a fact they won't be following protocols to stop the spread. And this is why vaccines are needed.

It protects the students, the faculty and the institution.

Now, this obviously is not perfect. But there are solutions for the most grievous of concerns. Those who choose to not be vaccinated can either enroll in a strictly online school or check out the virtual options at their current school.

But in this case the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few. Earlier this week Governor Phil Murphy said he was impressed by Rutgers' decision. I am not impressed. I am inspired by it.

I am hoping other schools districts will be as well.

Russ Crespolini is a Field Editor for Patch Media, adjunct professor and college newspaper advisor. His columns have won awards from the National Newspaper Association and the New Jersey Press Association.

He writes them in hopes of connecting with readers and engaging with them. And because it is cheaper than therapy. He can be reached at russ.crespolini@patch.com