(LifeSiteNews) — A Canadian university is receiving enormous backlash for updating its vaccine mandate to exempt certain “visitors,” many of whom are believed to have the potential for providing the university with money.
Last week, Western University in London, Ontario announced its new COVID vaccine requirements for the upcoming school year, which include getting the vaccine, one booster, and wearing masks in classrooms. However, the rules excuse a list of identified “visitors” who will not be required to follow these guidelines.
“Western University’s three-dose vaccination mandate applies to students, staff, and visitors — but those thinking of cutting a check to the university get a pass,” Canadian broadcaster and columnist Andrew Lawton wrote in an article published by True North. “Donors and prospective donors are also excluded from the mandate, meaning they do not need to be vaccinated or show proof of vaccination to attend campus like most others do.”
According to the policy, “individuals may request exceptions from the requirements” only “for a Visitor to come to campus for academic or non-academic purposes.” There is no mention of exemptions for students or staff.
The document highlights that “patients receiving clinical care at a University-operated clinic, research participants who are also clinical patients, or clients of legal clinics do not have to be Vaccinated in order to attend a clinic on Campus or to participate in a research study on Campus.” This statement is defended by the “ethical principle” of providing “equal access to health care or legal aid without prejudice,” although those who fall into this category are subject to COVID screening protocols.
The only people specified as having complete exemptions from the policy are emergency workers.
Campus visitors who “must comply with requirements” include contractors, international visitors, academic conference attendees, student interns, and concert attendees. Those who fall under the “exempt from requirements” category include visiting and prospective donors, prospective students, varsity game spectators, and recruitment candidates.
The university’s COVID policies were met with substantial backlash, particularly a large protest that took place on Saturday. Graduate student Kendra Hancock organized the demonstration with hundreds rallying behind the slogan “Enough is Enough.”
“We’re kind of tired of Western trying to control us, which is what’s been happening for the last 2 1/2 years,” Hancock told CTV News ahead of the protest. “It’s time for us to be treated as adults, and we need to be able to make our own choices regarding our own health.”
The university released a statement on the day of the protest expressing respect for students’ rights as well as commenting on the source of the issue.
“Our fall health and safety plans have one goal in mind: to ensure a healthy community so that we can protect in-person learning throughout the school year,” the statement reads. “We know this decision has spurred significant conversation — and as a centre of higher learning we encourage the exchange of differing viewpoints and ideas, while valuing constructive debate.”
As previously reported by LifeSiteNews, some Canadian universities are returning to full COVID mandates and most have decided to move forward and will not be requiring the extreme measures still present at Western University.
In a Twitter post, Lawton shared a photo of himself at the student-led protest, waving Canadian dollars.
“Here’s my message to Western,” he wrote in the caption. “I am thinking of giving this to you, and it’s going to take me a whole year to decide whether I give this to you. I’m a prospective donor, so the science says I don’t need to go along with (the mandate).”
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