SERVING SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI SINCE 1927 • WWW.STUDENTPRINTZ.COM • SEPTEMBER 29, 2021 | VOLUME 107 | ISSUE 6
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“A Bitter Disappointment”: IHL Decision Undercuts Faculty Push for Vaccine Mandate GARRET GROVE PRINTZ REPORTER
T
he Faculty Senate of the University of Southern Mississippi will move
forward on a vote in mandating COVID-19 vaccinations for students and employees on campus despite recent rulings from the Mississippi Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning (IHL). On Sept. 17, the IHL Board of Trustees amended a statement in August related to a vaccine mandate. Previously, the trustees prevented the educational body from issuing a vaccine mandate across all eight IHL institutions. It now adds that a proof of vaccination cannot be considered a condition of enrollment or employment at affiliated colleges and universities.
The Lucas Administration Building on an overcast day.
Loren Jones | Printz
Faculty Senate President Brian LaPierre stated that, while the move made by the IHL is “a bitter disap-
supported a vaccine mandate. Professor Jeremy Scott is the South-
but that we can’t mandate them.” Robert Leaf represents the Divi-
ing constraints,” Leaf said. Prior to the IHL announcement,
pointment”, the Southern Miss vac-
ern Miss chapter president of the
sion of Coastal Sciences in the Faculty
the faculty senate had been in talks
cine resolution will still be voted on.
AAUP. He also serves in the Gover-
Senate. As a senator who is neutral
with the administration about institut-
“I look forward to the October
nance and Handbook committee of
toward the vaccine mandate resolu-
ing more stringent measures against
1 meeting to see my colleagues and
the Faculty Senate. Like LaPierre, he
tion, he instead focused his attention
COVID-19. In a July letter obtained
look how we will move forward on
expressed his disappointment with the
on the nuances of the administration’s
by the Student Printz, the faculty sen-
this,” LaPierre said.
IHL’s decision.
process.
ate wrote a list of recommendations for Fall 2021, including mask man-
“As professionals and leaders of
“The limited conversations I’ve
-- the American Association for Uni-
education, we have the responsibility
been in with Dr. Bennett [makes me
dates, dynamic course delivery options
versity Professors (AAUP) -- is also
to protect and promote reliable in-
think that] he’s fully aware and very
and vaccine mandates. Some of these
in support of a vaccine mandate. In
formation,” Scott said. “They’re kind
concerned about the health and safety
a poll of its members released Sept.
of saying two things at once. They’re
of the USM community and is really
17, 88 percent of the respondents
saying that they support vaccinations,
trying to work within some challeng-
Another faculty group on campus
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