Date: April 23, 2021
Last week at a fabulous Junior Class Retreat, I took the liberty of asking for a show of hands: “How many of you are vaccinated?” Glancing around the room, over 85% put up their hands; some hands were raised half way, because they had just had one shot, but almost everyone had managed to get at least one dose of the vaccine.
At the Community Life Committee of the Board, there was an extended discussion as to whether we should follow other institutions of higher education and insist that everyone should be vaccinated. I explained that we are encouraging, modeling, and hoping to persuade the community to get vaccinated. In the end the Committee passed a motion inviting the Board to affirm that everyone in the community is “expected” to get vaccinated.
In the Fall, we will be an institution that seeks to enjoy presence and proximity. The increasing availability of the vaccination is good. This will help us realize this goal.
The Very Rev. Ian S. Markham, Ph.D.
Dean and President