Student petition against Chapman’s COVID-19 protocols demands immediate action

Senior political science major Mara Hughes told The Panther she no longer feels safe on campus.

“I could go to class — where I’m required to be — and be sitting in there for an hour with somebody who actively has COVID-19,” Hughes said. “Then, I potentially wouldn’t be (excused from classes) to quarantine and wouldn’t even necessarily be recommended to test by the school after that exposure.” 

After taking heavy precautions against the virus during the pandemic, Hughes said the act of attending class forced her to put herself at risk of exposure for the first time in a year and a half. 

Chapman University opened its campus to all students and faculty, regardless of vaccination status Aug. 30. Throughout the first week, the number of known positive COVID-19 cases jumped from 22 to nearly 300.

Over the summer, Chapman sent a series of emails updating students about the predicted guidelines for the upcoming semester. It wasn’t until a few weeks before classes began that Chapman alerted students face coverings would be required indoors and highly recommended outdoors. 

Although twice-weekly COVID-19 tests are required for unvaccinated individuals, vaccinated people are not required by the university to receive testing or to quarantine after exposure. However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends vaccinated individuals get a test three to five days after exposure regardless of symptoms.  

Chapman Activist Coalition, a group of vocal Chapman community members established in 2020, posted a statement and call to action on their Instagram account regarding the COVID-19 outbreak on campus. 

Included in this post was a breakdown of the biggest issues, a viral TikTok by Chapman student Emu Haynes, details of Chapman's current COVID-19 policies, resourceful websites and directions to a petition on change.org.

Davis DuBose-Marler, a senior screenwriting major who is unaffiliated with the coalition but supports their mission, helped write the petition, which now has over 2,000 signatures. The petition demands Chapman reinstitute a hybrid option for classes, drastically improve contact tracing and mandate surveillance testing for both vaccinated and unvaccinated students and faculty. Attached to the document is a thumbnail image that reads in bold, red letters: “DO BETTER CHAPMAN.”

“There's such a disparity right now between the administration and the student body,” DuBose-Marler said. “The administration can’t ignore their role in this spread, and they are.”

DuBose-Marler also described situations in her first two classes of the semester: one where a student was not wearing a mask despite the instructor going over COVID-19 policies, and another where the teacher told students wearing a mask wasn’t necessary in the room because the class size was so small.

Although some steps have been taken since the petition was first released, like the onboarding of more contact tracers, DuBose-Marler says that contact tracing works better at preventing outbreaks when paired alongside social distancing and hybrid options in classrooms.

Not everyone agrees with the concerns laid out by Chapman Activist Coalition’s petition. Senior broadcast journalism and documentary major Justin Buckner, who is also the president of Chapman Republicans, commented on the Instagram post asking, “y’all really want to send us back (online)?”

To Buckner, Chapman’s COVID-19 policies are more than sufficient to provide safety and peace of mind.

“I feel that Chapman has already implemented a plenary of unnecessary COVID-19 protocols to appease individuals who are afraid of returning to an in-person setting,” Buckner told The Panther.

As Orange County does not currently require a mask mandate in any public places, Buckner said Chapman’s policies restrict students’ freedom of choice regarding their personal beliefs and individual approach to COVID-19 protocols.

“The state of California as well as Orange County do not mandate masks, but Chapman University is continuing to do so,” Buckner said. “I believe that students should be treated equally on campus; either mandate tests for everyone or no one.”

Chapman Activist Coalition organized a virtual student-run town hall Sept. 13 to discuss COVID-19 concerns on campus and potential solutions.

The event began with introductions from Chapman Activist Coalition members, a statement from the authors of the petition and a series of slides that outlined the demands of the group. The floor was then opened to anyone in attendance who felt strongly about the topic. 

“It's really embarrassing that (the testing center) is turning people away,” Daniel McGreevy, a junior political science major, said at the event. “It's all going to come down to money. It speaks volumes about what Chapman prioritizes because we have the money for a George Bush mural, but when it comes to testing students twice a week (we don’t)?” 

For a further look into the story behind the creation of the online petition, check out episode 32 of The Panther Pod, “Chapman Behind the Scenes: Do Better Chapman.”