San Jose City College Times, Vol 91, Issue 2, Oct. 19, 2021

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Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2021

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The Voice of San Jose City College Students Since 1956

Volume 91 Issue 2

SJCC celebrates National Coming Out day Crime against trans people on the rise

BY JORDAN HARRIS

TIMES STAFF

First celebrated in 1988, NCOD is a positive celebration of queerness that encourages folks to share their truth with the world and take a stand against homophobia.

San Jose City College President Rowena Tomaneng said that supporting the LGBTQ+ students is a critical aspect of the college’s goal.

“We understand that the coming out process can be a difficult experience for LGBTQ+ people because of institutionalized discrimination, hate, violence, transphobia and homophobia,” Tomaneng said.

“SJCC encourages members of our community to become allies to LGBTQ+ individuals and advocates for LGBTQ+ rights.”

San Jose City College hosted an online event on Monday Oct. 11, featuring national LGBTQ+ equality advocate, Rebby Kern, to mark the occasion.

SJCC program SafeZone, along with the office of Student Development, the Student Equity and Achievement Program and the Diversity Advisory Committee, presented : Rolling out the welcome mat: Celebrating LGBTQ+ truth and wellness.

Kern said, “Today is really special for a lot of reasons,” ...“sometimes it feels like it is a one-time deal but in reality it is a lifelong journey.”

ILLUSTRATION COURTESY OF DC

The new Superman comes out as bisexual on Oct. 11, National Coming Out Day. Rebby Kern, (they/them), serves as the Director of Education Policy at Equality North Carolina. They are also a nationally certified trainer for human rights campaign foundations, Welcoming Schools and All Children All Families, as well as providing training to youth-serving professionals in North Carolina through the Shift NC program. They are also the only non binary person of color in the state of North Carolina to be a brand ambassador for sportswear company Lululemon.

SJCC has a number of programs dedicated to promoting equal rights and opportunities for LGBTQ+ students, staff and faculty.

Rene Alvarez, Dean of Academic Success and Student Equality, said, “Institutions of higher education have an

obligation to ensure LGBTQ+ student development and learning outcomes by listening to LGBTQ+ student voices, improving campus climate and fostering a deeper sense of belonging-ness.”

Mental health has begun to occupy a place in world headlines because of famous athletes such as United States Olympic gymnast Simone Biles and professional tennis player Naomi Osaka and during the ongoing pandemic created by the COVID-19 virus, people more and more are realizing how important it is.

According to the Trevor Project, a survey included that “the experiences of nearly 35,000 LGBTQ youth ages 13–24 across the United States. ... 70% of LGBTQ+ youth stated that their mental health was poor most

“More than 80% of LGBTQ+ youth stated that COVID-19 made their living situation more stressful.”

Trevor Project 2021 of the time or always during COVID-19.”

Adding to the problems, the study indicated that “More than 80% of LGBTQ+ youth stated that COVID-19 made their living situation more stressful — and only 1 in 3 LGBTQ+ youth found their home to be LGBTQ-

affirming.”

The Human Rights Campaign, tracking violence against the transgender and nongender conforming community since 2013, has reported 44 fatalities in 2020 making it the most violent year on record. The majority of these deaths have been Black or Latinx transgender women.

Event attendee, Donntay MooreThomas, program coordinator for the SJCC department of Student Affairs, said, “LGBTQ+ history is Black history.”

Upcoming events sponsored by SafeZone, Student Development, the SEAP and the DAC include the Transgender Day of Remembrance and Transgender Day of Visibility. On Nov. 4, there will be a viewing of the documentary They/Them/Theirs and a Q&A session with the filmmaker TherActivist after.

Student debt relief pending

President Biden made campaign promises

BY MADISON WILBER

TIMES STAFF

The U.S. Department of Education announced Wednesday, Oct. 6, that it is revamping its requirements on eligibility and overhauling the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program.

“We will offer a timelimited waiver so that student borrowers can count payments from all federal loan programs

or repayment plans toward forgiveness,” the department announced. “This includes loan types and payment plans that were not previously eligible.”

One in eight Americans are burdened by student loans.

The total Federal student loan debt is $1.59 trillion, averaging about $30,000 per borrower, according to the Education Data Organization.

“At least about 30% of our students are receiving some type of financial aid,” San Jose City College Financial Aid Specialist Hendy Lam said.

Lam also works for Federal Student Loans and said he believes the government should be doing more to help its

NEXT NEWSPAPER: Nov. 9

citizens and their student loan debt.

The PSLF program offers indebted citizens a chance to do away with their student loans by working full-time in public service after so many payments.

Many citizens have voiced that the PSLF does not do enough for those with student loans and they are being denied the help they deserve.

Approximately 43% of applications that are sent to the PSLF program are said to not be processed yet and 59% of applicants are denied, according to Education Data Statistics. The Biden administration promised $10,000 in student loan

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PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY JUAN CORTEZ / TIMES STAFF

One in eight Americans are burdened by student loans, according to the Education Data Organization. forgiveness to citizens during Biden’s run for president. It was a large selling point and resulted in Biden gaining a large

amount of followers.For more information on the overhaul, visit the U.S. Department of Education website.

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2 OPINION

Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2021

Yes for student debt relief A record of $1.6 trillion hits the government

Student debt should be forgiven because it will help students focus more on getting their careers started in a challenging and competitive work field.

According to CBS news, nearly 45% of 2020 college graduates are still looking for jobs and COVID-19 has not made it any easier.

The average federal student loan debt is $36,510 per student and $54,921 in private student loans, according to the Education Data organization.

The total amount of student debt in 2020 is about $1.6 trillion. In 2008 it was $600 billion, meaning it has nearly doubled in 12 years, according to the Peter G. Peterson Foundation.

Many people ask, “How will the $1.6 trillion get covered?”

Sen. Elizabeth Warren, when introducing the legislation to the Senate, said she would tax the wealthiest Americans when presenting the plan to cancel $50,000 in student loan debt. Sen. Bernie Sanders says he will create a “Wall Street speculation tax,” taxing stock, bond and derivative trades, according to NPR. Money should come from taxing the rich. In the midst of the pandemic, the rich have gotten richer and the poor have gotten poorer.

Aimee Picchi from CBS News wrote an article March 31 about billionaires getting 54% richer during the pandemic, while poverty rates have also increased during the pandemic.

In Picchis’s article she said that Chuck Collins, who is a researcher at the IPS’ Program on Inequality, said that a wealth tax would be good for the economy. He said that if last year the rich would have gotten taxed, $345 billion would have been a significant amount of money injected into the economy.

This wealth tax could raise up to $1.5 trillion in the next 10 years. This amount raised is close to the $1.6 trillion in student debt. According to Picchi’s article from CBS News.

According to the Scholarship America Organization, students with outstanding loan payments are less likely to purchase a house, get a car loan, bad credit scores and most likely will continue living with their parents.

Speaking about parents, sometimes they have to apply for federal parent loans on behalf of their student children.

According to the Student Loan Hero Organization, 69% of the college class of 2019 had an average debt of $29,000. Students were not the only ones who took out loans but parents did as well. About 14% of students’ parents took out an average of $37,000 in federal parent loans.

Students who have graduated have to settle for lower paying jobs because of the financial responsibility they have to pay their bills.

Think about graduating student debt free, how much easier would it be to face the challenging work field?

Not having the urgency to get the first job that you are offered just because your first student loan bill is coming up.

According to CNBC Make It, a survey found that 56% of all U.S. adults and 62% of Generation Z support a $10,000 relief on their student loans.

Some may argue that there is financial aid assistance to help with student loans. Yes, there is. Low-income students face the greatest struggle. They not only face financial hardship but face personal problems at home such as unstable homes, living in low-income neighborhoods that have high crime rates.

CARTOON BY JUAN CORTEZ / TIMES STAFF

Students don't just graduate with a diploma

Should student debt be relieved?

COMPILED BY EMMANUEL BECERRIL/ TIMES STAFF

but thousands of dollars in debt.

Middle class students seem to have it a little easier or so it seems. Middle class students bear higher student loan debt after graduating. Their families make too much money to qualify for financial aid but don’t have the means to pay tuition out of pocket, according to Scholarship America. Thus, forcing them to apply for private federal loans.

Some may argue that they paid their student loans, why should students now receive a relief? Claiming that it is unfair.

David Goldstein, in an article for Vox on Nov. 16, wrote that although he did pay off his student loans, he still supports student loan forgiveness.

Goldstein explained the difference in tuition costs when he went to college in the early 1980’s.

He wrote that the average in-state tuition at a fouryear public college or university was just $909 thirty years ago. Now the average tuition costs is $10,230 a year.

At the time, Goldstein wrote that minimum wage was $3.35 and he could have paid his entire freshman year tuition, plus fees, by just working a full-time job for about seven weeks.

Tuition has multiplied by more than 11 times since, but the minimum wage has only been raised to $7.25.

CNBC Make It wrote that in a survey conducted with 3,069 students, 39% of students who already have loans would consider dropping out of school in order to avoid accumulating more debt.

San Jose City College 2021 tuition fees are $1,362 for California residents and $9,118 for out-of-state students. Approximately 48% of enrolled students have received grants, scholarships as well as financial aid, according to College Tuition Compare.

It also states that the average earning after 10 years of graduation is $37,600. Is that enough for the cost of living in the Bay Area?

Students shouldn’t have to worry about paying their student loan or their rent.

According to Payscale, San Jose’s cost of living is 49% higher than the national average. The cost of living in San Jose has been calculated to $50,000.

This student relief bill will help alleviate the burden for about 45 million students. Whether it be the $10,000 relief for students that President Biden endorsed while campaigning or $50,000 that Congress is trying to push him to pass, the mass relief that would spread across the country would be remarkable.

Students need this relief bill to be passed. Many students heard it promised by Biden and are still awaiting the fulfillment of it. Many are struggling, drowning in student debt.

This relief bill will help relieve financial hardships caused by federal and private loans, not to mention the financial hardship also caused by COVID-19.

Andy Tu Age:30 Major: EMT “I think student debt should be relieved because education is important.”

Noor Alsabbagh Age:16 Major: Middle College “Student debt should be relieved because the debt accumulates to a amount that is unreasonable for student”

Editor-in-Chief

Reporters

Social Media

Madison Wilber

Abyssinia Muhammad

Emmanuel Becerril

Jordan Harris

Adviser Farideh Dada

Sports Editor Juan C. Cortez

Riley Peirce Age:17 Major: Middle College “Student debt shouldn’t be relieved because that is a personal debt with your bank or college and should be paid individually.”

Chris Espinoza Age:18 Major: Art “Student debt should be relieved because not everybody comes from stable background and for those families to pay student debt is very stressful.”

Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2021

Campus Life 3

Future Motherscholars Si Se Puede (Yes we can) Doctora Christine Vega shares her struggles and achievements

BY JUAN CORTEZ

TIMES STAFF

SJCC offers multiple events and speaker series through Zoom sessions to honor Latinx Heritage Month, which is observed from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15.

Doctora Christine Vega, an assistant professor of Chicana/o Studies at San Jose State University, shared her experiences as a Motherscholar activist in an event Wednesday, Oct. 6.

While conducting her research, she said she traveled to different states interviewing other Motherscholars about their life stories.

“The stigma still exists, you can’t have a baby and become a profesora,” Vega said.

She said some women she interviewed did not want their personal information disclosed because of the fear of its impact

on them one day becoming powerful to see mothers professors. and parents and caretakers Johana (who did not are starting to show up in want her last name to these different spaces.” be disclosed), an SJCC Vega said. alumni who is a Chicana She shared the reason and a mother, faced various why she decided to follow struggles while she was her research. The data attending SJCC as well. she presented was the “When my daughter was following: a year old I told my parents, Out of 100 Chicanas in I’m going to go back to elementary school, only Vega school. The first thing my 60 will get a high school dad told me was who is going diploma, out of those 60, 0.2 to take care of her?” said Johana. will earn a Ph.D. She said she understood that education “When you meet Chicanas who have was important to not only provide for a Ph.D.s you’re basically talking to a her daughters but set an example of the unicorn. We are so rare, but we are starting importance of education. to earn these Ph. D.s more and more.” said “I wanted to graduate for my daughter,” Vega. said Johana.

Out of 100 Latinas in elementary school, She said she was glad she didn’t let that only 54 will get a high school diploma, out discourage her, and continued pursuing her of those 54, 0.3 will earn a Ph.D. academic goals.

“This is some of the first data I saw back “Things are changing and it is really in 2006 about the educational pipeline,

and I was really blown away. Like, what is happening to Chicanas, Latinas and Indigenous mujeres in the educational pipeline? How come it’s 0.3 percent? It’s not even a complete person.” said Vega.

She also shared a picture from La Raza magazine from 1975. On the cover of La Raza magazine it said 1975 International Women ‘s Year, Año Internacional de la Mujer.

The cover picture has a Chicana woman with her hand raised with a closed fist. With her left, she holds her young child close to her hip. Doctora Vega showed the cover of Chicana Feminist Thought book with the same image but with the child cut out.

“It blew me away, even in our studies this very important book, it shows and doesn’t show something and it’s also the reminder that you have one role only...it’s giving us a message, a very clear message.” said Vega.

Vega concluded her session by sharing some stories of the Latinx women she interviewed for her research.

Scars remain, battle for ethnic studies programs continues Nolan Cabrera shares his firsthand experiences

being covered by big media outlets.

“Even though this was the highest profile Ethnic Studies case in the country, you’ll notice that if you’ve been paying attention,

BY JUAN CORTEZ a lot of the critical race theory bans that TIMES STAFF have been going on use almost identical In honor of Latinx Heritage month, Dr. language, identical verbiage to try to outNolan Cabrera, who is an award-winning law that kind of teaching,” Cabrera said.

He said that many saw black, brown and scholar and was also an expert witness in the Tucson Unified Mexican American indigenous people learning about their own Ethnic Studies case, was a part of a Zoom culture as a threat to the state.

“Horne claimed ‘that Mexican American session Wednesday, Oct. 6.

The Tucson Unified Mexican Ameri- studies is un-American,’” Cabrera said.

How can it be un-American? Cabrera can Ethnic Studies case became the highest-profile ethnic studies case in the history later on explained how Mexican American of the United States. There was a law in studies was the target.

“These other tenants are never uniformly Arizona known as HB 2281 that banned ethnic studies classes in school districts or applied,” Cabrera said.

He mentioned that another school in the charter schools.

Tom Horne, who at the time was Arizo- district had an Advanced Placement Eurona’s Superintendent of Public Instructions, pean History class in their curriculum that claimed that the classes were unconstitu- was never investigated. This school was tional and misleading students to racial re- located in a wealthy area, wherein its masentment and overthrowing the government. jority was white students.

Horne was the one leading this ban “But when it’s varrio kids in a brown against Mexican American ethnic studies. community sitting there learning about Cabrera shared with more than 100 peo- their culturally affirming work that’s seen ple, including SJCC students and faculty, as a threat,” Cabrera said. what he experienced firsthand.

Throughout Cabrera’s presentation, vid“What happened in Arizona spread like eo clips of the protests were played, picwildfire,” Cabrera said. tures were also shared.

The news about the ban of Mexican Those present saw when young Chicanos American Ethnic Studies in Arizona was and Chicanas from Tucson Unified fought

for their culture, for the thing is great, we’re right to have Chicano still struggling with the studies available at their scars within the community. And it’s a very schools. real thing, but at the end “The Ethnic Studies of the day we fought program in Tucson was the state and we won,” founded as with so many Cabrera said.

Ethnic Studies programs, He pointed out that during the ethnic studies came out of collective movement, they created struggle,” Cabrera said. a blueprint for others He reiterated that the who would be facing Ethnic Studies movesimilar challenges in ment was not successful the constitutionality of Cabrera because of the generosicritical race theory bans ty of the educational instituthroughout the country. tions, rather it was successful because the Cabrera shared a video of Raquel Rucommunity came together. bio-Goldsmith who has been a community “When was the last time that there had fighter and activist for years. Rubio-Goldto be a hunger strike to create a physics de- smith stood before the Tucson Unified partment? Or when was the last time that School District board members during a there had to be a massive protest and walk- meeting whose topic was the Ethnic Studout to create a history department? It just ies program.

She said that she had been through many doesn’t happen,” Cabrera said. superintendents, administrators and memHe emphasized the struggles the communities endured in order for their knowledge bers of the board.

“It’s important for you to know that we to be validated within the educational instihave been here...and you will be gone but tutions. we will still be here,” Goldsmith said.

In the end, all their struggle and work Those who were present cheered after paid off. Judge A. Wallace Tashima declared that the ban on Ethnic Studies is un- her speech.

“And it’s true,” Cabrera said. “They’re constitutional in 2017. all gone, we’re still here, because again “Don’t think like we won and everythat’s the power of the community.”

Local female artist speaks out against Latinx injustice Local artist Nancy Hernandez tells her story to viewers

BY ABYSSINIA MUHAMMAD

TIMES STAFF

San Jose City College celebrated Latinx Heritage Month by having Latin artist Nancy Hernandez come speak.

Hernandez is an artist who has worked her way up from being a tutor for youth, to becoming one of the most popular artists in Northern California.

SJCC paid tribute to the local artist, who started her career at a local after-school program, San Francisco Jamestown Community Center, where she attended art classes to help build skills in her artistry.

“Her murals and art have been and continue to be an inspiration for us growing up in such difficult times,” San Francisco native underground local

NEXT NEWSPAPER: NOV. 9

artist Sharnae Webb seeing others happy and looks forward to the said. “My father is Mexican and my energies and expressions mother is mixed race. one has when viewing or I identify as bi-racial admiring her artwork. but when I see her Some of her most artwork around the famous pieces can be city, it makes me viewed online and are proud to be a Latina showcased in the San artist.”

Francisco Mission Hernandez started District. her art career more The local artist also than a decade ago, became a local activist, experimenting with speaking out against many different Hernandez formats of art from social injustice against watercolor, acrylic and Hispanic immigrants. spray paint.

Anti-immigrant Proposition 187 was The 41-year-old artist has showcased the motive for the strong activism that her artwork all over the world. It has rose within Hernandez. Campaigns, such allowed her to maintain balance and as the Proposition 21 movement, taught harmony within her career, Hernandez Hernandez nonviolent skills, which she said. Through traveling and art, the later used to lead her people to Hilton artist has been able to give back to her hotels to protest and fight against unfair community. She said she thrives off of treatment and policies.

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Hernandez speaks out against the number of males and youth growing in the jail and prison industry. She also has taken action on the increasing number of gang violence in local Hispanic communities.

“Her work is very inspirational. I always enjoy the culture she incorporates in her work and the colorful designs,” Julio Woods said. ”It’s therapeutic in some sense. When I discovered that she was an activist too it only increased my love and appreciation for her. She is definitely one of my favorite artists.”

As of now Hernandez said she continues to protest against laws and unfair treatment that target Hispanic communities. She also continues to give back to her community through teaching art and nonviolent techniques to youth and underprivileged families in the Bay Area.

To learn more about Hernandez or how you can get involved, contact Jamestown Community Center.

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4 Campus Life

Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2021

ASG announces Harvest Fest The committee discussed budget costs, workshops and more

BY MADISON WILBER

TIMES STAFF

The Associated Student Government in its Wednesday, Oct. 6 meeting set a tentative budget of $1,800 for a Harvest Festival that’s set to take place Oct. 27, from 11a.m. to 2 p.m..

The festival will have games, snacks and goodies for community members that attend. Games include Corn hole, Spin the Wheel and Connect Four. Snacks and goodies include candy apples, pizza, candy, and more. There will also be a pumpkin patch photo spot for attendees to take nice pictures with their friends and family.

The meeting also involved discussing an ASG Progress Tracker, the buying of standing signs and a Workshop for Pronouns, in honor of LGBTQ+ History month.

ASG Vice President of Finance Carlos Corona presented a new template he created called the ASG Progress Tracker. He says the tracker will help keep ASG on task and give the public an opportunity to see the progress that has been made. The

proposal to buy standing signs for ASG. Covarrubias said it could “show announcements, links, QR codes, social media, event pictures, resources” and “allow SJCC clubs and other organizations (committees) to advertise their events and activities.” The cost of these signs was set to not exceed $700, but the discussion on which signs to get is still in the works.

The final proposal of the night was when a committee member put forward the idea of having a Workshop for Pronouns, in honor of LGBTQ+ history month. The workshop would educate viewers on how to ask someone his/her/their pronouns, what to do if you make a mistake, and why it is important to respect others’ pronouns.

Details for the workshop were not COURTESY OF PEXELS disclosed except that there would be a Lady using wheel barrel to carry speaker who would come in to teach pumpkins to a pumpkin patch. the course.

ASG Chief Justice Francis Seludo Tracker will be uploaded to the ASG had to break a dispute between ASG website in the upcoming weeks.

Advisor Juan Garcia and an offCorona said he decided to make camera gentleman named “Rudy.” this tracker because “we can’t wait for The argument was over a buzzing others to get the ball rolling.” noise coming from Rudy that was The tracker was such a big distracting others in the meeting. discussion, the members added six Garcia asked Rudy about it and things minutes to the discussion time. escalated from there.

Director of Student Engagement Seludo used his gavel in attempts to Daniel Gonzalez Covarrubias stop the dispute and finally after many presented members with the tries he was successful.

SJCC requires proof of vaccine Holds placed on educational records for non-compliance

BY JORDAN HARRIS

TIMES STAFF

COMPILED BY EMMANUEL BECERRIL / TIMES STAFF

Favorite scary movie?

Matt Valenzuela Age: 19 Major: Political Science “My favorite scary movie is ‘Candyman’ (2021) because of the social commentary on generational trauma the movie touches on.”

David Ortiz Age:21 Major: EMT “Chucky (‘Child’s Play’ 1988) is my favorite scary movie because it was the first movie that actually scared me.”

Jay Rudolph Age:18 Major: Nursing “My favorite scary movie is ‘The Hole’ (2001) because of the intensity of the movie.”

Esteban Guevara Age:18 Program: Middle College “My favorite scary movie is ‘Saw’ (2001) because it introduces a great series of movies and also the story/plot is really interesting.”

NEXT NEWSPAPER: Nov. 9

San Jose City College vaccine mandate requires all students and employees to be vaccinated and show proof of vaccination by Nov. 1.

This mandate which applies to all students and employees, with exceptions for medical and religious reasons, was instituted on Aug. 31.

SJCC President Rowena Tomaneng, in a letter to students said, “Students will not be administratively withdrawn from classes this semester as we complete verification of vaccination documentation and exemption requests. Students who submit falsified information may face discipline up to and including expulsion under the Student Code of Conduct.”

Duneshka Elias, 21, global studies major, said she thinks the mandate is the right thing to do.

“This pandemic is something I really have to take seriously because many people have died and it’s also affecting young people now,” she said. “Everyone has to take responsibility.”

While many students agree with the mandate it does pose a conflict for others as they try to navigate personal beliefs and reservations while remaining committed to their obligations as a student.

“I don’t believe it is the right thing to do,” said student athlete Anthony Fernandez, 18, business major. “They should at least have another option where you could get tested weekly”.

There are no disciplinary actions for students who have not received their vaccination or submitted the proof, but they will have a hold placed on their educational records beginning Nov, 1, according to the SJCC website.

“The pandemic isn’t over yet, so it’s better to just be safe than sorry.

There’s a lot of people who have

BY JORDAN HARRIS / TIMES STAFF

Students Daijunay Turner and Gabe Chavarro preparing to call a Jaguars football game while following the mask protocol and getting last minute advice from broadcast instructor Betsy Gebhart. younger siblings at home or just older people like grandparents who really have to stay safe,” said Adilene Banuelos, 18, kinesiology major.

There is no exception for online only students. This mandate includes all students of SJCC and Evergreen Valley College.

Suzanne Wang, the director of Student Health Services, said, “We don’t enforce,” but “of course” students are urged to get vaccinated.

“We want to really start reintegrating students back onto campus, and start redoing club charterships and events; however we are doing it in a way to keep everyone safe,” said Robert Andrade, student trustee.

SJCC has taken a number of steps to protect its campus from an outbreak of the virus. Wellness kiosks have been placed at the entrance of each building and throughout the campus.

The kiosks, which provide sanitizer and face masks, are available to all.

The SJCC Student Health Services website also provides resources for those looking to get vaccinated or anyone hoping to learn more about the COVID-19 virus.

According to the official California state website as of Oct. 4 there have been 4,519,467 cases confirmed and

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69,027 deaths. In Santa Clara County, there have been 141,840 cases and 1869 deaths. California has been lauded as a leader nationally for their efforts to vaccinate its population and specifically the San Francisco Bay Area.

The site also reported that 49,970,814 vaccines have been administered, which is 78.9% of the population.

According to the site, “From Sept.

12 to Sept. 18, unvaccinated people were 8.1 times more likely to get COVID-19 than fully vaccinated people.”

While cases locally have dropped considerably in comparison to the rest of the country, many are still worried about what they see as an ongoing battle. Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, told CBS on Sunday, Oct, 3, that it was “too soon to tell” whether families should gather for the upcoming holidays.

Psychology major said, “I feel like it’s OK” to have a campus vaccination mandate “since they’re doing it at jobs now, I personally wear a mask inside and outside because I like to protect the people around me.”

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