A letter from the Centre Region Council of Governments encouraging Penn State to mandate the COVID-19 vaccine for students drew a critical reply from university President Eric Barron this week.
On Aug. 19, the COG’s executive committee, representing the six Centre Region municipalities, unanimously approved sending a letter expressing appreciation for both the university’s efforts during the pandemic and what Penn State students bring to the community.
But, the letter signed by COG Chair and Harris Township Supervisor Dennis Hameister said, Penn State should consider further action.
“[A] majority of our members feel that requiring all students to be fully vaccinated to live on campus or participate in campus activities would create a safer and more comfortable environment for all of those that live, work, and play in the Centre Region,” the letter stated. “We strongly encourage Penn State University to take the next step in providing a high level of comfort for our residents and require vaccinations or verifications of having received the vaccination against the virus that causes COVID-19.”
In addition to Hameister, the COG executive committee includes State College Borough Councilman Jesse Barlow, Ferguson Township Supervisor Laura Dininni, College Township Councilman Rich Francke, Halfmoon Township Supervisor Bob Strouse and Patton Township Supervisor Dan Treviño.
Barron replied this week, writing that Penn State and Centre Region governments have worked well together throughout the pandemic but that he was “extremely disappointed by the tone and tenor” of the letter for what he called the “singling out” of university students.
“Your letter treated students as if they are not vital members of our community, but ‘others’ who are unwanted visitors,” Barron wrote. “Students are an incredibly important part of our community and should be treated as such. Importantly, Penn State students are vaccinated at a higher rate than most of Centre County.”
About 57% of adults in Centre County are fully vaccinated, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Barron wrote that of the 13,428 students who moved into on-campus residence halls last week, 82% are fully vaccinated. Among the 2,639 who were required to be tested for COVID-19 because they did not provide proof of vaccination prior to move-in, 18, or about 0.7%, tested positive.
Barron did not provide vaccination rates for the entire student body, which includes about 30,000 more who live off-campus. He noted, however, that 94% of administrators and 82% of academic personnel are fully vaccinated. For all full-time staff, 72% are fully vaccinated.
“This progress is no accident,” Barron wrote. “Penn State has made vaccination easy, incentivized it, put in place a testing and enforcement mechanism for those who are not vaccinated, required arrival testing for any student prior to accessing a residence hall room if they have not uploaded their vaccination status, put in place an indoor masking requirement, among many other steps.
The COG is far from alone in asking the university to mandate COVID-19 vaccine. The University Faculty Senate has twice called for a requirement (and issued a vote of no-confidence in the university’s COVID response plans for the fall). Multiple student government groups, State College Borough and Patton Township have issued similar requests.
The faculty-led Coalition for a Just University organized a letter that drew more than 3,000 signatures from university employees, students and community members. The same group held one rally outside Old Main to call for a vaccine mandate and has another one scheduled for Friday. It also organized an effort in which some faculty members taught online only for the first two days of the semester in protest of the lack of a vaccine mandate.
More than 800 colleges and universities, including nine of the 14 Big Ten schools, are requiring COVID-19 vaccines for students and/or employees, according to the Chronicle of Higher Education.
Penn State administration, with the backing of the Board of Trustees, has steadfastly resisted making it a requirement. Barron, who two weeks ago wrote that fear of funding cuts by the Republican controlled state legislature was a factor in the university’s decision, wrote this week that Penn State’s approach of aggressively promoting vaccinations is working.
“Our community, and especially our students, has stepped up to the plate,” he wrote in response to the COG. “On the other hand, not one of the municipalities in the Centre Region are requiring mandates for your own personnel or in your buildings nor has COG encouraged its citizens to be vaccinated at anywhere near the scope that Penn State has.”
Both the COG executive committee and Barron ended their letters with an expressed desire for continued collaboration — though the Penn State president’s took a hasher tone.
“As always, we remain ready to assist in any manner that furthers the betterment of our shared residents and our communities, and the Centre Region municipalities remain committed to the strong partnerships that exist with the university,” the COG letter reads.
Barron’s letter, meanwhile, concluded, “I think we would be better off to focus on the kind of productive partnership we have developed through the pandemic. Letters like the one you sent only perpetuate the myth that Penn State and local leaders do not work collaboratively to solve challenges in our community.”
Both letters are reproduced in full below.
Centre Region COG Executive Committee Letter to Penn State President Eric Barron
Dear President Barron,
On behalf of the entire General Forum, the Centre Region Council of Governments congratulates Penn State University on implementing extensive masking requirements on campus, however, it should be emphasized that there is concern regarding unvaccinated students visiting our communities to shop, eat and socialize. In doing so, students will interact with residents of the Centre Region. During normal times, the presence of students in stores and restaurants is one of the great benefits of the town-gown relationship in our wider community. Now, however, we feel we must stress the need for continued safety and vigilance to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in our communities.
The broader Penn State University Park community generally appreciates the efforts that the University and its administration made throughout the COVID pandemic situation. It is recognized by the Centre Region communities that the University is navigating uncharted territory while working to balance a multitude of competing interests that is fraught with potential disappointment and reproach. We wish to thank Penn State for their efforts taken to this point to protect students, faculty, staff, and the community.
With that said, a majority of our members feel that requiring all students to be fully vaccinated to live on campus or participate in campus activities would create a safer and more comfortable environment for all of those that live, work, and play in the Centre Region. We strongly encourage Penn State University to take the next step in providing a high level of comfort for our residents and require vaccinations or verifications of having received the vaccination against the virus that causes COVID-19.
As always, we remain ready to assist in any manner that furthers the betterment of our shared residents and our communities, and the Centre Region municipalities remain committed to the strong partnerships that exist with the university.
Sincerely,
Dennis Hameister
Centre Region COG Chair
Penn State President Eric Barron Response to Centre Region COG Executive Committee
Dear Chairman Hameister:
Thank you for writing to me endorsing a vaccine mandate for students at Penn State. Throughout the course of the pandemic, Penn State and Centre Region governments have worked closely and productively, by information sharing, alignment of university and municipal policies, health information communications, vaccination clinics, and more. In this case, however, I was extremely disappointed by the tone and tenor of your letter, especially the singling out of Penn State students.
Your letter treated students as if they are not vital members of our community, but “others” who are unwanted visitors. Students are an incredibly important part of our community and should be treated as such. Importantly, Penn State students are vaccinated at a higher rate than most of Centre County. The vaccination rate for Centre County is at 57% for those above 18 years of age, significantly less than all categories of Penn Staters—faculty, staff and especially students. Consider the following data points:
- Of the 13,428 students checked in to our residence halls over the past several days, more than 82% are fully vaccinated. As of the signing of this letter, we have a total of six students in quarantine and isolation. Positive tests for those who have not already uploaded proof of vaccination are less than 1%. Many of the tested students are in progress of being vaccinated in the two-step process. The requirement of weekly testing will further increase vaccinations.
- Vaccination proof or weekly testing is also required of employees as well as students. As of August 20, administrators and academic personnel were vaccinated at 94% and 82%, respectively. The total for all full-time staff is 72%.
This progress is no accident. Penn State has made vaccination easy, incentivized it, put in place a testing and enforcement mechanism for those who are not vaccinated, required arrival testing for any student prior to accessing a residence hall room if they have not uploaded their vaccination status, put in place an indoor masking requirement, among many other steps. Our community, and especially our students, has stepped up to the plate. On the other hand, not one of the municipalities in the Centre Region are requiring mandates for your own personnel or in your buildings nor has COG encouraged its citizens to be vaccinated at anywhere near the scope that Penn State has.
I think we would be better off to focus on the kind of productive partnership we have developed through the pandemic. Letters like the one you sent only perpetuate the myth that Penn State and local leaders do not work collaboratively to solve challenges in our community.
Eric J. Barron
President, Penn State
