UL Issues Mask Mandate, Encourages Vaccinations
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VOLUME 118 | ISSUE 1 UL issues mask mandate, UPC’s plans for encourages vaccinations Lena Foster upcoming NEWS EDITOR The University of Louisiana at semester Lafayette reinstated a mask mandate for students, faculty and visitors, and Kaytlyn Williams established the Don’t Wait. Vaccinate! NEWS WRITER incentives program to encourage student vaccinations. Fall semester at the University Due to the Centers for Disease of Louisiana at Lafayette is quickly Control and Prevention’s announcement approaching, which means student about the Delta variant’s increased life will be back in full force. After a infection rate and Louisiana’s rising case majority of the school year was virtual, numbers, Gov. John Bel Edwards issued many are hoping to dive right back into a temporary indoor mask directive on activities and pick up exactly where they Aug. 2, for all individuals aged five years left off. or older. The University Program Council is According to Joey Pons, UL Lafayette’s planning to give students an event- director of risk management, the packed school year. With numerous university followed the governor’s events in store, there will be plenty of executive order and the guidelines from chances for all students to have fun. CDC and the Louisiana Department of Before coming on campus, a lot of Health in order to draft the updated face Graphic by Allan Skinner students were confused about what UPC covering regulations. established the program to motivate the fall semester of 2021 and complete actually was. Recently, Mikayla Worthy, “Our interim mask policy is now, per students to get vaccinated. an entry form on the Don’t Wait. a junior majoring in Kinesiology who the governor’s orders, requiring us to Although the Delta variant can be Vaccinate! Incentives Program page. currently serves as traditions director, wear masks indoors at this time,” Pons transferred from vaccinated individuals, Out-of-state and international answered a few questions about the said. CDC confirmed that unvaccinated students must submit their proof of upcoming year. Although periodically edited, the people have the greatest risk of vaccination on the Student Health “UPC is a premiere organization that mask mandate was last revised on Aug. contraction and transmission. The CDC Services patient portal. plans events for the students, by the 10 in order to include Bourgeois Hall as also reports that vaccinated people stay From there, the student’s name students. We traditionally plan events a mask-required vicinity. infectious for a shorter time. will be entered into the drawing for such as Lagniappe Day, Yell Like Hell, However, according to Dr. Margarita According to Perez, the program prizes including free parking, an Apple Drive In Movie, and Dear World,” Perez, Dean of Students, mask coverings has two objectives: to reward those Watch Series 6, $300 worth of declining Worthy said. are not required outdoors, but are who had already been vaccinated balance, Oculus Quests, iPhone 12s and According to Worthy, UPC is recommended if people are in groups. and to encourage students who were Macbook Airs. completely focused on organizing The indoor mask covering policy also considering getting vaccinated. The program is funded by the events that students actually want to included some exceptions. “What we know from CDC and the Wellness Center Fund at the University see. “Being paid attention to by your “Your mask should be on unless you’re Louisiana Department of Health is that of Louisiana at Lafayette Foundation university makes the college experience in a private room,” Perez said. “You can vaccination is a part of ending COVID. according to the Don’t Wait. Vaccinate! so much better. Fun events equal remove your face covering when you are It’s the best action we can each take Incentives Program website. meeting new people, a little bit of stress actively eating or drinking.” to ensure that we’re safe and that our According to Perez, the university being taken away because of classes, and The university will take disciplinary community is safe,” Perez said. coordinated the drawing days for also allows you to network. action on all students and faculty who During the spring semester of students who aren’t vaccinated to have “Students can expect to have events fail to abide by the mask covering 2021, college students were allowed to enough time to get the shots needed to designed for them and what they instructions after mask informing receive the vaccination, however, due fulfill the requirements. actually want to see. They can also efforts. to final campus events and exams, it’s With the help of Amy Windsor, UL expect a level of understanding they “Our goal is to try to educate. This is possible some students weren’t able Lafayette’s social media strategist, the usually don’t get to see from faculty,” what we do. So we will try to encourage to get vaccinated. Because of this, the university was able to advertise the Worthy said. our students to follow the policy, but university wanted to remind students of program. There has been an increase of As students return to campus, Worthy if they refuse, they will be referred the opportunity as well as offer prizes. vaccinated students. said that the most important events to the Office of Student Rights and “It gives us the best chance that we can “We are finding it to be very usually happen during Homecoming, Responsibility,” Pons said. “Likewise to have a healthy and safe community. successful. We’ve watched our numbers which falls on the week of Oct. 24 to for our employees. If compliance is an It also gives us the best chance to have a increase every week based on students Oct. 30. issue after an attempt to encourage and pre-pandemic, normal semester,” Perez being able to get those shots,” Perez said. Worthy said, “I am most excited reeducate from their supervisors, then said. “We do know that people that are Over 3,600 students have entered about our jam-packed events during they can be referred to HR.” vaccinated can still get COVID and can into the drawing and two winners were this important time such as the Walk In order to promote more student still be a spreader, but it reduces the determined so far from the Aug. 10 and faculty safety, the university created of Flame Fashion show, etc.” UPC is chance that you’re going to have a severe drawing. the Don’t Wait. Vaccinate! Incentives not just only known for Homecoming case of COVID.” “What offering an incentive program Program. events. A plethora of events that The program was launched in July and does is this: it makes a student stop and Administration and student happen on campus all come from includes five drawing dates ranging from consider getting the vaccination,” Perez organization leaders determined the behind the scenes work of students. For Aug. 10 to Oct. 5. To qualify, students need for advocacy for the importance of must be fully vaccinated, registered for COVID-19 CHANGES UPC EVENTS COVID-19 vaccinations and therefore continued on page 2 continued on page 2 Summer COVID-19 cases put university total at 993 for upcoming fall semester Morri Sampey According to the dashboard as of Confirmed positive tests include dean of students themselves, according EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Monday, the university has confirmed tests taken by Student Health Services to the dashboard. that 223 students and 195 faculty and UL Lafayette Athletics, as well As of Monday, the dashboard There were five new COVID-19 and staff members contracted the as tests submitted to the university’s displays total positive tests since Jan. cases among students, faculty and virus, and 575 students have told the human resources department by 4, 2020. staff at the University of Louisiana university they’ve tested positive. This faculty, staff and student workers. This is an ongoing story. Stay with at Lafayette during the week of Aug. means there have been a total of 993 Self-reported tests were taken by off- the Vermilion for more updates. 15, according to the university’s cases among students, faculty and staff campus health care providers. Students COVID-19 dashboard on Aug. 16. at UL Lafayette. in this category sent their results to the Sports Allons Allons Allons RECORD-SETTING FUNDRAISER EVERYTHING IS (NOT) FINE I BELIEVE IN YOU FIELD GOALS FOR FAITH We have the inside look on how the University The world is falling apart, and Bo Burnham The game Earthbound is “one of the most In this satire piece, Our Lady of the Lourdes is planning on spending the $15 million is happy to sing about it in his newest Netflix beautiful pieces of art,” according to Design sends their best nuns to compete in the holiest donated by Our Lady of Lourdes. special “Inside.” Manager Cole Broussard. football scrimmage yet. PAGE 3 PAGE 4 PAGE 5 PAGE 6 2 AUGUST 18, 2021 | THE VERMILION COVID-19 CHANGES UPC EVENTS continued from page 1 continued from page 1 Police Reports Compiled by Morri Sampey said. example, the Miss UL pageant has been From there, the student’s name popular with all types of people. Many will be entered into the drawing for contestants from different backgrounds Aug. 14 prizes including free parking, an Apple l Watch Series 6, $300 worth of declining all competed for a chance at glory this At 6:00 p.m., a blue 2007 Honda Accord hit a blue 2012 Ford Escape at the balance, Oculus Quests, iPhone 12s, and past year. The winner, Josie Stephens, a intersection of St. Mary and Hebrard Street. Macbook Airs.