Arizona and California universities take different approaches to COVID-19 this spring

by Adnan Alam
  • Audio-COVID Vaccine
  • Run time: 2:22
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Karen Marroquin
Cronkite News 

Script:

HOST INTRO: 

UNIVERSITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY HAVE  IMPLEMENTED COVID-19 PROTOCOLS TO TRY AND KEEP STUDENTS AND FACULTY SAFE THIS SPRING. SOME REQUIRE MASKS INDOORS, WHILE OTHERS REQUIRE VACCINATIONS. THAT’S THE CASE FOR CALIFORNIA UNIVERSITIES. . CRONKITE NEWS’ KAREN MARROQUIN EXPLAINS WHY THEY MADE THIS MOVE AND WHY ARIZONA UNIVERSITIES HAVEN’T.

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UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA IS ONE OF THE MANY UNIVERSITIES IN CALIFORNIA THAT HAS REQUIRED THEIR STUDENTS TO GET THEIR BOOSTER SHOT BEFORE RETURNING TO CLASSES THIS SPRING. THE CAMPUS IS LOCATED IN THE HEART OF SOUTH LOS-ANGELES, AND U-S-C’S PLAN TO ADDRESS COVID-19 GOES BEYOND JUST PROTECTING THOSE AT THE UNIVERSITY

Van Orman 2.WAV:“ We have an opportunity to not only protect the people that are a part of of USC, but everyone who is around us.“ 5 SECONDS

THIS IS SARAH VAN ORMAN. SHE’S THE CHIEF HEALTH OFFICER AT USC’S STUDENT HEALTH. 

IN FACT UNIVERSITIES ALL OVER SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA HAVE IMPLEMENTED THEIR OWN SAFETY MEASURES, SUCH AS COMPLETING A RETURN TO CAMPUS TRAINING AND TAKING THEIR TEMPERATURE EVERY DAY

RHODES 1. WAV. “You have no idea what some people’s health factors are and the virus could affect many people in many different ways.” 8 SECONDS

THAT’S JOSHUA RHODES, A STUDENT AT CAL STATE NORTHRIDGE. 

SOME STUDENTS AGREE WITH RHODES BUT, THERE HAS BEEN RESISTANCE TO SCHOOL RULES. 

JUST TWO WEEKS AGO, A STUDENT SUED THE SANTA MONICA COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT FOR IMPLEMENTING A RULE THAT REQUIRES STUDENTS TO BE VACCINATED AGAINST COVID-19.  THEIR LAWYER CALLS THE RULE UNCONSTITUTIONAL.

IN ARIZONA, COLLEGE STUDENTS AT ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY AND OTHER STATE UNIVERSITIES AREN’T  REQUIRED TO BE VACCINATED AGAINST COVID-19. THAT’S DESPITE THE SURGE OF CASES IN BOTH ARIZONA AND CALIFORNIA THIS WINTER. 

WILL HUMBLE IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE ARIZONA PUBLIC HEALTH ASSOCIATION. HE SAYS A LOT OF IT HAS TO DO WITH LOCAL POLITICS.

HUMBLE 1. WAV “In Arizona we’ve got a governor that has been micromanaging universities and making it nearly impossible for them to implement these kinds of mitigation measures.” 07 SECONDS

WE REACHED OUT TO THE GOVERNOR’S OFFICE FOR COMMENT, AND DID NOT RECEIVE A RESPONSE.

HUMBLE SAYS THE BEST DECISION FOR SCHOOLS WOULD BE TO REQUIRE VACCINES. 

HUMBLE 2. WAV “You’re going to have fewer disruptions in the classroom, you’re going to have fewer disruptions at research, you’re going to have better attendance by the students 

HUMBLE SAYS HE HOPES MORE UNIVERSITIES —LIKE THOSE IN CALIFORNIA—  WILL START TO IMPLEMENT VACCINE REQUIREMENTS SO THAT EVERYONE CAN LEARN SAFELY. 

IN LOS ANGELES, I’M KAREN MARROQUIN, CRONKITE NEWS.