Members of Miami University’s College Republicans (CRs) met with FOX 19, Ohio legislators, and political candidates to speak out against Miami’s new mask mandate.
The mandate, which went into effect on August 9th, requires all individuals to wear a mask while indoors on campus regardless of vaccination status.
College Republicans held the press conference on Wednesday, August 11th at 4:00pm in front of Roudebush Hall, where Chairman Collin Finn, accompanied by Vice Chairman Ethan Chiapelli, shared their thoughts on the mandate and invited supporters to do the same. Among these supporters were Ohio Senator George Lang, who, though unable to attend in person, recorded an interview with Finn which was played during the press conference. In the interview Lang emphasized that masking should be about having the personal freedom to make the best choices for each individual’s personal health.
Representative Thomas Hall, a graduate of Miami, also expressed his disappointment in Miami University’s new policy, saying “this mask mandate is not something we will stand for.”
U.S. Senate candidate Mark Pukita, another proud supporter of the Miami College Republicans, also made an appearance in person. Pukita cited the fact that young people are at very low risk of catching COVID, and at an even lower risk of being hospitalized or dying from the virus. He emphasized that every death is a tragedy, but called for Miami to put the numbers into perspective, saying “Miami has about 15,000 students so let’s do the math. That would be about 12 [students] hospitalized and .15 deceased…I do not want to belittle anything about any tragic loss of life but let’s not belittle personal rights with draconian and unnecessary measures.”
Other supporters of the CRs included US Senate candidates Josh Mandel and J.D. Vance, who expressed their support on social media.
When asked what he thought the effect of reinstating the mask mandate would be, Finn said “I think it’s important to note that not having to wear a mask is one of the key incentives for vaccination. The university claims to be promoting vaccination: if they really wanted to promote vaccination they should reintroduce that vaccine exemption [from wearing masks] at the very least.”
He also made the argument that a mask mandate reduces the credibility of the vaccine in the public eye.
“We need to have masks nowhere,” Finn said when asked about the mandate and its effect on the surrounding area.
“That’s not to say people should be banned from wearing a mask. You should be able to. Just like if you want to get vaccinated, you should be able to…I’m just about choice, bottom line.”
