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Two of OHIO’s student governance bodies have passed resolutions recognizing and supporting the University’s COVID-19 vaccine requirement. The resolutions acknowledge the importance of the University taking this step to keep OHIO campuses and communities safe.

“I am grateful to our student senators for taking this important leadership role," �������� President Hugh Sherman said. “We appreciate their support as we work together to keep our community as safe as possible.”

�������� Student Senate passed Resolution 2122-01, A Bill in Support of ��������’s Decision to Require the COVID-19 Vaccine, on Sept. 13. Among its statements, the resolution asserts that “as Bobcats it is our duty to take care of fellow Bobcats,” “that no student, staff member, or faculty member should have to worry about contracting the Covid-19 at work or school,” and that “by being vaccinated, we will be doing our part to protect the community of Athens and those who are not eligible to receive the vaccine.”

Graduate Student Senate passed Resolution 2122-02: Supporting mandatory COVID-19 vaccine policy at ��������, on Sept. 28. The resolution "acknowledges OHIO University for putting the health and safety of students as a top priority and responding quickly to the global call to action,” supporting not only the vaccine requirement but also the indoor masking requirement: "GSS encourages all graduate and professional students to comply with the requirements and make our own contribution to overcome the pandemic as soon as possible.”

Nisha Singh, GSS Commissioner of Health and Safety Affairs and a doctoral student in nuclear astrophysics, worked with GSS Treasurer Charlotte Yang, a doctoral student in translational biomedical sciences, to bring forth the resolution, which GSS passed unanimously.

“Any institution that makes these requirements for everyone shows that it puts the health and safety of people first,” Singh said. “The University makes a lot of announcements, but this is particularly important because it not only affects the University, but the whole community. This is our way of showing support.”

GSS President Joseph Elikem Kofi Ziorklui, a master’s student in financial economics, said that fighting COVID-19 is one of GSS’s goals and objectives for this academic year. “We felt the need for GSS to support the University in fighting the pandemic as much as possible.”