Alabama State University has made changes to its safety protocols for the spring 2022 semester due to the rise of COVID-19 across the country. The university announced an updated COVID-19 athletic protocol stating that students have to be tested at least 72 hours prior to attending the athletic events on campus until further notice.
However, while some students approve of the new mandate, others believe that the mandate is “too much” and should be reevaluated.
Arnold Bhebhe, a sophomore biomedical engineering major, believes the 72-hour mandate is fair enough.
“The school faces a great challenge of getting more people infected by hosting games where people get to gather together. Therefore, I believe that having students present negative covid test results 72 hours before the game is great for the safety of the school, the students, and everyone else who attends these games,” Bhebhe said. “To some extent, presenting these test results might not be enough of a measure to prevent further infections from COVID-19, so it would be good to observe other safety protocols, like wearing masks, as well.”
Camryn Hornes, a freshman theater major, believes the 72-hour testing mandate is inconvenient to basketball fans.
“Some people do not have time to take a test every week,” Hornes said. “I feel like doing this is not going to help stop the spread of the virus at ASU, especially if people can easily edit a fake negative result. It’s honestly a waste of time, in my opinion.”
“I feel that the new protocol is making a lot of students not support the athletics events because they do not want to get tested for every game,” said Phoenix Fluker, a junior psychology major. “A vaccination card should be enough.”
Jaliaha Gibson, a first-year early childhood education major, agrees. “Honestly, I get why the university is making this a mandatory rule for everyone that wants to attend the games,” she said, “but testing every time you want to go to a game is too much.”
Destiny Davis, a freshman rehabilitation services major, says, “I feel like if we aren’t showing symptoms, we should be fine to attend the games. Some students did not even know about the 72-hour COVID-19 testing. They could simply check temperatures like they have been doing because the coronavirus is not going anywhere.”
There are students who cannot access testing services within the stated time period that the university is requiring and feel like COVID-19 testing every now and then is more practical, rather than being forced to stand in long lines in the cold weather to be tested.
Chance Dobson, a freshman childhood education major, believes the mandate is overkill. “We are already tested to return to campus. Why do we need to get tested to attend a basketball game?” Dobson asked. “If COVID-19 is this bad, then why are we still here?”
Shatera Taylor, a sophomore psychology major, agrees.
“I understand that the three-day testing requirement is due to the safety of the students,” she said. “However, I could understand why some of the students would be against it. Those who attend multiple games may feel like they have to get tested too often. It does seem a bit excessive, but it is not completely unnecessary.”