THUNDER BAY — More than 2,000 people have signed a petition asking Lakehead University to consider postponing the resumption of in-person learning.
They also want more safeguards against COVID-19.
Instruction on campus is currently scheduled to begin on Jan. 31.
The Lakehead University Student Union initiated the petition on change.org.
It says with COVID-19 continuing to spread, and hospitalizations increasing, next week is not the safest option for the Lakehead community.
"The self-isolation period recommended by the government is now five days. Students are stressed as studies show that the Omicron variant can be infectious for 10 days," the petition states.
It says the lack of widely-available testing means both symptomatic and asymptomatic students pose a risk to their classmates, and that "daily screening tools and vaccine passports introduced by the university have not been monitored" by staff to a standard where students feel comfortable returning to campus.
The petition also maintains that classroom capacities have not been adjusted to allow for proper social distancing.
LUSU officials were not immediately available Tuesday for comment.
But the petition urges Lakehead to consider extending virtual learning to Feb. 25, which is the end of the Winter Break.
Whether in-class learning resumes on Jan. 31 or later, it calls for a series of measures to mitigate the risk of spreading COVID-19 on campus.
These include providing rapid tests and better-quality masks, and arranging for more frequent and consistent screening.
The petition also asks that all courses be offered with a hybrid option to accommodate students wishing or needing to learn off-campus.
University officials declined a request for an interview about the students' concerns.
However, the administration issued a statement that noted the school's COVID-19 Transition Committee had already recommended postponing the original Jan. 24 resumption of in-person classes by one week, after considering the latest guidance from public health authorities.
The statement added –
To help protect those on our campuses, Lakehead has a mandatory vaccination policy that applies to anyone accessing our premises. This includes mandatory daily COVID screenings using our Mobile Safety app, the requirement to be able to present vaccine passports, and adherence to COVID protocols such as masking, physical distancing, and hand-washing. A guide to help instructors, supervisors, and students manage any cases of COVID that arise on our campuses has also been shared with the University community, and accommodations will be made for those who need them.
As always, our COVID-19 Transition Committee considers the health and well-being of our University community as its top priority, and will continue to assess and respond appropriately to the ever-changing pandemic situation. Should public health officials or the Province advise differently, Lakehead University will assess how that information impacts our campuses, and we will continue to adhere to directives and recommendations that help ensure the health and safety of our students, faculty, and staff.
