NATALIE PARKS Q&A

Trying to lead by example

Photo by Katen Adams

Natalie Parks said Texas A&M is trying to find a “happy middle” when it comes to weekly COVID-19 testing on campus.

By Mackenzie Finch

Natalie Parks, communication senior and 2021-22 student body president at Texas A&M, was asked about her role addressing student concerns about the coronavirus, campus cases and transmission rates, and how the ongoing pandemic intersects with student mental health on campus.

Q: What is the role of the student body president addressing these campus concerns?

A: My job is to serve as the voice of the student body here at Texas A&M, whether that be attending events where I get to [talk to] students or creating surveys. A big role is working with administration as a liaison between the student body and the university’s administrators.

Q: What are students’ biggest issues?

A: The biggest issue students took a stand on, especially this past month of September, is COVID-19-focused. Using platforms to uplift what students are thinking about different administrative decisions — about strategies pertaining to COVID. Students took a stand; there was a COVID protest. I believe it was a very productive protest. Administration got to hear exactly what students were thinking through the COVID feedback form that was sent out by the organizers of the protest. Our student government collaborated and put together a report, so that raw feedback was really important.

Also, October is Mental Health Awareness Month, and the student government is going to be launching a campaign called Whoop for Wellness. It will tackle communication and messaging efforts pertaining to COVID — resources that are available on campus — but also opening up more conversations pertaining to mental health. There’s a lot of overlap between the two, and we recognize that living an extremely virtual world has its pros and cons. Online classes affected mental health in a negative way. All these different topics and themes of conversations tie in together.

Q: How was the COVID-19 protest ‘productive?’

A: A lot of positive things came from this protest. The organizers put together that feedback form; it was circulated throughout Twitter and social media. There was probably about 20 pages of feedback that came from that. If we can, even have more tangible pieces such as feedback forms so we can make reports to be given to the administration. It was helpful to have it all in one place to see exactly what students were thinking and what potential changes people wanted implemented.

Q: Do you wear a mask in class as a student leader?

A: Yes, ma’am. I have a mask on my desk right now from the class. The class that I am in person for this semester is a small class, about 20 people. Everyone wears a mask there and the professor always has a box of masks on the desk, which is helpful if we forget to bring one. We are there because we want to learn, but a part of that is protecting each other.

Texas A&M University, because we are a public institution, is not allowed by law [by order of Gov. Abbott] to mandate masks or vaccines. A big focus for our student government Whoop for Wellness campaign is taking COVID precautions and the strong encouragement of different processes such as wearing masks and getting a vaccine. Communication from students is what other students end up being more receptive to — putting out the science and the facts we want to, even do a myth busters series on it.

We are still in a pandemic, and it really ends up becoming a part of our individual responsibilities as humans, as friends, as Aggies to keep each other safe and to keep each other accountable as well.

Q: In the A&M faculty senate meeting on Oct. 11, faculty senator Adam Kolasinski mentioned A&M is allowed to require weekly COVID-19 testing and students could be exempt from testing if they volunteered information they received the COVID-19 vaccine. This was mentioned as a possibility, but no further comment was made. What are your thoughts?

A: While weekly testing is an option, with the amount of support it would get, there would be a substantial push back. Texas A&M is trying to find a happy middle.

Q: What is your plan as student body president after hearing this information?

A: I would like to see at the very least monthly testing being implemented. I don’t know at this time [if] we are likely to see a weekly testing, at least for the entire community.