The University of Idaho abruptly ended its mask mandate Tuesday, announcing the decision just the day before. Masks are no longer required in public spaces or in classrooms unless mandated by specific professors.
Formerly a main line of defense, the removal of mask mandates in the region are being carried out differently depending on the institution. Here’s a look at Washington State University, Boise State University, Lewis-Clark State College and Idaho State University, with updates since the fall semester.
In addition, UI students gave their thoughts on the mandate’s removal.
Washington State University – Pullman
In an email sent Tuesday, UI’s western neighbor WSU announced its decision to remove the mask mandate in most spaces beginning March 12. This includes classrooms, residence halls and dining halls.
Effective immediately, the university is no longer requiring proof of vaccination to attend events on campus.
The decision came after Washington decided it will end the state’s indoor mask mandate on March 21.
Prior to the beginning of the academic year, WSU announced it would mandate students to be vaccinated. Unlike public Idaho institutions limited by Gov. Brad Little’s previous executive order, Washington schools can mandate vaccinations.
“Vaccination rates among the WSU community are strong, and while we continue to monitor conditions within our communities, I am confident we are on the right track to bring the pandemic under control,” President Kirk Schulz said in a WSU Insider article.
Boise State University – Boise
In an email sent out to students Feb. 28, BSU announced the loosening of its mask mandate beginning next Monday.
Masks will be optional in residence halls, BSU’s Student Union Building, the Albertson’s Library and in some additional spaces.
While masks are optional in common areas, they will still be mandatory in all classrooms.
“Though Ada County is still in the CDC’s “high” category, as cases continue to decline and the backlog of community cases is cleared, the county will drop to medium status,” the email states. “This, coupled with the university’s low case counts and positivity rates, supports a phased rollback of the campus mask requirement.”
Last week, BSU saw a 0% positivity rate among students tested and seven reported cases. According to the university’s COVID-19 tracking page, five of these cases were from off-campus students and two were faculty or staff members.
Lewis-Clark State College – Lewiston
On Feb. 14, LCSC President Cynthia Pemberton announced a “test drive” of ending the college’s mask mandate.
Beginning Feb. 18, masks were made optional across campus except if required by individual faculty in classrooms or offices. Since then, masks have remained optional.
“From my vantage point, it’s gone well. It’s gone really well,” Director of Communications & Marketing Logan Fowler said.
LCSC has continued its weekly surveillance testing into this spring semester with Vault testing kits, testing sample sizes of the campus population.
According to their COVID-19 page, the school is currently at a moderate risk level with zero active cases as they continue to monitor the situation through surveillance testing.
Idaho State University – Pocatello
In an email sent Feb. 25, ISU President Kevin Satterlee announced the removal of their mask mandate beginning March 2 across their Pocatello and Idaho Falls campuses. However, the Twin Falls County and Ada County campuses are continuing their mandate due to higher case numbers.
“To ensure faculty and staff have the time they may need to make preparations, we will not immediately implement today’s announcement from the CDC,” Satterlee stated in an email to employees.
There is no mention of professors being able to require masks for their classes. Faculty and students who are uncomfortable attending in person without masks may work with the university to request accommodations.
“Essentially, we are following CDC guidelines, which includes optional face coverings at our campus locations in CDC low or medium levels, and required face coverings at our campus locations where in CDC high level areas,” Public Information Specialist Emily Frandsen stated.
UI students
Back at UI, students are adapting to the new normal without mandated masks.
Avalon Zborowski is a second-year student at UI majoring in virtual technology and design.
“I personally am okay with it. I don’t think not wearing a mask kills people. It seems to be a political debate rather than a health debate,” Zborowski said.
Zborowski doesn’t plan on wearing masks indoors unless required by professors and thinks that the mask mandate could have been lifted sooner.
Sophomore Marissa Samayoa is a computer science major who hopes this may be a sign of things getting better.
“I think it’s one step towards things going back to normal, if it doesn’t work then we will just go back to masks, but I think it’s good to try, but people should do what they want,” Samayoa said.
Samayoa does not plan on wearing a mask indoors unless required by a professor or if someone she is with is uncomfortable with her not wearing a mask.
Logan Kearney is a first-year majoring in mechanical engineering, unsure of what the new normal is.
“Honestly, I’m still getting used to it, I still wear my mask indoors. Generally, I don’t have too strong of feelings on it. It’s timed a little weirdly, but I couldn’t think of a better time except maybe the end of the semester,” Kearney said. “Any decision made would feel off.”
BSU’s Office of Communications could not be reached for comment.
Jess Englis and Haadiya Tariq can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @haadiyatariq