Quinnipiac University announced this week that unvaccinated students who return to campus will face $100 weekly fines and will lose access to the school’s wireless internet.
There are about 600 students who have not been vaccinated against COVID-19. They must submit proof of vaccination by Sept. 14 or they will be blocked from using the school’s Wi-Fi and will be fined up to $2,275 throughout the semester, according to the school’s newspaper, the Quinnipiac Chronicle.
The unvaccinated students also will be required to be tested for COVID-19 weekly. If they miss a test, they will be fined an additional $100.
The Connecticut school also announced a mask mandate on Aug. 2, telling students they must wear masks at all times in indoor settings.
Students were also encouraged to test themselves for COVID-19 five days before returning to campus for the first day of classes on Aug. 30.
Junior Danyella Kaplan slammed the school for punishing unvaccinated students instead of trying to educate them.
“Financial consequences do not seem to be the right answer that will actually have long-term benefits,” Kaplan said. “If students choose to be unvaccinated, having them take a class on the importance of practicing safety measures would be a more beneficial measure to take.”
Another student, senior Sydnie Bookman, said the policy doesn’t make any sense since vaccinated students can still carry the coronavirus and spread it to others as well.
“Both vaccinated and unvaccinated students could be jeopardizing the community’s health and forcing us back to Zoom University,” Bookman said. “And let’s be real, no matter where you stand regarding this vaccine, no one wants that.”
Several universities across the country have implemented vaccine mandates for students who intend to return to campus this fall.
A group of students at Indiana University sued to overturn the policy, but Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett tossed their appeal last week, leaving the mandate in place.
