Students, faculty comment on confusion amid recent changes to masking policy at U.

On September 26, the University announced the removal of mask mandates in indoor teaching spaces and libraries and later changed its statement to “most indoor spaces” following three faculty union objections on October 3. 

Rutgers began remote learning in March 2020 following Gov. Phil Murphy’s (D-N.J.) executive order that ceased in-person teaching for all New Jersey higher education institutions.

Returning to in-person learning after two years and six months of remote learning and masked instruction resulted in mixed reactions from students and faculty since Rutgers’ discretion regarding masks affects most students who attend in-person classes. 

“I am glad for the chance to see my students’ faces and welcomed the announcement that we wouldn't be required to wear masks … starting on October 1,” said Abigail Reardon, an assistant teaching professor in the English Department and director of Expository Writing. 

Reardon said the removal of the mandate felt sudden, and she said she worries for her immunocompromised colleagues and those who have real fears of exposure to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

On March 2, Murphy announced that he was lifting the universal school mask mandate.

The New Jersey Department of Health reported 1,199 lab-confirmed positive cases on September 26, the date of Rutgers' announcement removing the face covering requirement.

Vaideesh Swaminathan, a Rutgers Business School sophomore, said that he trusts the University is making the right decisions that are based on established research.

“I don't really mind wearing the mask as long as I'm asked to. I don't think it's overdue personally because I'm just adhering to whatever they told me,” Swaminathan said. “Obviously, I do like not wearing a mask, but if I'm told to do so for the sake of public health, then I will.”

The announcement reinstating the mandate states that faculty members can require face coverings to be worn in indoor teaching spaces.

Swaminathan said that the instructor controls the classroom and that students are fortunate to continue learning in person, even if professors require students to wear masks. He also said that he enjoys not wearing a mask when he is able.

Zhefu Jin, a School of Arts and Sciences sophomore, wears a mask as much as possible around campus.

“I think we should still keep wearing masks because (COVID-19) is still there,” Jin said. “I don't want to get (COVID-19) because it's pretty annoying.”

Jin and Reardon both said they feel safe on campus regarding COVID-19, but both said they take necessary precautions in public spaces.

To stay safe, Reardon said she holds office hours online, which she said helps students avoid meeting in close settings.

Arly Rubens, the administrative assistant at the Rutgers Writing Centers, said that consistency in University’s guidelines regarding COVID-19 would help reduce confusion among students and faculty.

“I think that behaviorally the pandemic is over but not in terms of cases,” Rubens said.

She said she is confused by the University's definition of teaching space and where masks are required and not required, though this confusion surrounding COVID-19 and an eventual return to normalcy is still unknown.

Reardon said she is unsure how to feel about President Joseph R. Biden’s statement in a recent "60 Minutes" interview that the pandemic was over.

“What does it mean for this pandemic to be over? Because people are still dying every day and our lives are going on. So how I feel about that is conflicted,” Reardon said. “That is a tidier description of the now-endemic experience of (COVID-19).”