Mask discrimination is sweeping our nation, especially on college campuses where far-left professors get on a power trip for forcing their students to comply in order to save their grades.
Even though Oklahoma has a state law that prevents mask mandates by public school boards from being implemented, the University of Oklahoma is choosing to ignore these measures and allow professors to decide how students can complete their class requirements, masked or not.
Two students at the University of Oklahoma are actively fighting for their right to study unmasked at the public university that they pay taxes to and fund directly in return for their higher education.
The concerned students told TPUSA that they “believe that it is unconstitutional and a violation of SB 658 to force us to mask without a reasonable alternative. Although we are aware that there will be prejudice and a chance that our grades could suffer, we believe this is a fight that has to be fought. Enforcing through fear with no legal backing is unacceptable…especially for an entity that is teaching students to advocate for people’s rights and uphold the law.”
The law students expressed that some of their professors have worked alongside them to implement alternate learning options such as Zoom, distanced seating in the classroom, etc. Unfortunately, there have also been professors unwilling to discuss alternate possibilities despite already allowing students sick with COVID to view class lectures and participate via Zoom.
One professor named Steven J. Cleveland stated that “Zoom is not an option.” However, his syllabus states that he will allow Zoom for COVID-related absences. These students would argue that anything mask-related is COVID-related, and I agree.
This same professor stated in an email to the student that “If you want to take a principled stand, then you must be prepared to suffer the consequences.”
Professor Cleveland is not the only professor making things difficult for non-maskers at the University of Oklahoma. The law students have had issues with several of their professors dictating whether they can complete their class requirements unmasked or not and decided to take their concern to Dean Guzman and Dean Gensler.
In a meeting held with the Deans, the students were told it is university policy, and they were “out of luck” moving forward. Despite having a doctor’s note to remain unmasked, Dean Guzman and Dean Gensler also informed the students that their professors could decide if they would allow them to attend Zoom or not. This has put the students in a position to drop classes they paid for and that they need to complete for graduation requirements.
You would think a university that advocates and teaches its students to protect and honor society’s rights and uphold the law would be more understanding and see through the fact that students’ rights are being stripped on their own campus. I suppose COVID-fear porn truly can create a society victim to mass formation psychosis and lawlessness. Do better, University of Oklahoma.
