Students offer perspective on mask, social distancing guidelines
Content warning: This story contains a direct quote with an expletive. Pacer Times avoids obscene language but adheres to AP style, which allows the usage of expletive if used in a direct quote.
Students have expressed concern over the practice of social distancing on campus as well as the mask policy.
“I think people are ignorant when it comes to wearing masks and they are not educating themselves probably. Overall, it’s a good idea to wear your mask at all times,” said psychology major Zoe Noriega.
Freshman Julia Rowan commented that she doesn’t “mind” wearing masks, but “if you see me walking around and talking with my friends, I often do not have my mask on. But if someone approaches us, I will put my mask on for them out of respect.”
A nursing student remarked that they “don’t think people are practicing social distancing on campus at all.”
“If everyone wears their mask we should be fine,” they finished.
USC Aiken has encouraged community involvement and responsibility on the enforcement of safety guidelines.
Rowan offered her approach to a classmate not adhering to the mask policy in class. “If that happens in my class, I’ll ask them to put it on. It is a rule and I know what it’s like to wear a mask. It’s not a big deal. Don’t be a baby. Just wear your mask.”
Freshman Phillip Miller’s response was, “As long that classmate is far away from me, I’m OK with them taking it off … It’s their choice, so their consequence.”
Statements made that professors take off their masks during class have concerned many students on the USCA Student Life page on Facebook.
Miller responded to this claim: “I have noticed that teachers take off their mask, but usually they are far away from other people, so it doesn’t bother me. I understand that they have to lead a class.”
Noriega also supported this claim. “A lot of professors, I see them not wearing their mask while in class. But the school requires us to wear them at all times. That is my only issue, that professor should wear their mask even when they are far up in the front.”
”Their main excuse is that students can’t hear them, but if they ask us a question, we have to answer them too,” Elaysia Keith responded.
Rowan added, “If someone has a problem with it, don’t show up at school. Nobody wants your nasty ass germs here.”
