Fall 2024 COVID Open Letter to UW Leadership
Ask UW leadership to oppose mask bans and provide basic COVID resources at UW–Madison and all UW campuses
Join fellow concerned community members in requesting that UW–Madison and Universities of Wisconsin leadership support public health on campus by opposing mask bans and providing basic COVID resources on UW campuses this fall. UW campuses do not currently have mask bans; however, due to mask bans on several other campuses nationally, we are requesting action to oppose mask bans preemptively. Below is an open sign-on letter written by Wisconsin Community Health Action members, including university faculty, staff, and community members.
Instructions for signing the open letter: In your Action Network comment, please write your name as you would like it to appear, and optionally include your UW connection (such as role or title, alumni status/year, department), and any comment you would like shared publicly and with the addressees. If you do not include a comment in Action Network, your name will be included as entered in the Action Network name fields. Signee names and comments will be updated periodically on this Substack page.
The letter remains open for signatures. The open letter, signatures, and comments received as of noon on 9/23 will be delivered to UW leadership the week of 9/23. Signatures received after noon on 9/23 will be counted in the Action Network tally and also displayed on our Substack.
Please feel free to share, duplicate, or modify our letter to help you in any efforts for improving COVID advocacy.
To:
UW–Madison Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin
UW–Madison Provost Charles Isbell
UW–Madison Deputy Vice Chancellor for Diversity and Inclusion LeVar Charleston
UW–Madison Associate Vice Chancellor & University Health Services Executive Director Jake Baggot
Universities of Wisconsin President Jay Rothman
September 7, 2024
Dear UW–Madison and Universities of Wisconsin leadership and administrative staff,
COVID remains a highly transmissible disease with ongoing impacts in our campus community. Basic public health and healthcare protections should not depend on the ability to pay, which is why we are asking UW–Madison and the Universities of Wisconsin to provide the simple, low-cost protections listed below for students and staff.
Despite the ongoing spread of COVID nationally, mask bans have recently been implemented on a few university campuses elsewhere. Mask bans on university campuses are a grave concern as they discourage use of scientifically proven respiratory protection. Health exemptions are unacceptable, as anyone should be able to use masks on campus to protect against infectious diseases, smoke, pollution, and allergens, regardless of any documented disability or medical diagnosis. Mask bans have the potential to be enforced in ways that discriminate against those vulnerable to criminalization, including disabled and BIPOC members of our campus community.
We would like to request an online meeting with you or a member of your office to discuss our concerns and the requests below. As students, faculty, staff, alumni, and Wisconsin community members, we request that UW–Madison and Universities of Wisconsin do the following:
Create a campus-wide policy that clearly states masks are welcome in all campus spaces, and make a public statement opposing mask bans. Masks are a crucial public health protection that should be available to everyone on campus, whether they are attending class or exercising their right to free speech.
Distribute masks at convenient locations. High-quality masks (such as N95, KN95, and KF94 respirators) from reputable sources are a significant cost for individuals, especially students, but are a minimal cost for the institution. In our experience, students generally prefer black ear-loop masks such as KN95 or KF94 masks.
Provide free COVID testing for members of the campus community. Both PCR and home rapid antigen tests are important tools for diagnosis as well as to help students and workers know when to isolate or seek treatment for COVID. Numerous students have shared that they use COVID tests, and we urge UW to reduce barriers to accessing such tests by providing them free of charge to the campus community.
Provide free up-to-date COVID vaccines for all members of the campus community. Currently, uninsured students and employees are expected to pay out of pocket. Vaccination on campus must be free and should be made more convenient for students and staff, such as expanding the vaccination sites and times available. We recommend a strong education campaign targeted at students and staff, as was done by UW–Madison in the beginning of the pandemic.
Through the above actions, you can make UW campuses safer and more welcoming for all students, staff, and community members. Now, more than ever, universities must push back on anti-science and anti-public health rhetoric and actions. Mask bans put everyone’s health at risk and exclude marginalized communities from participation in daily life. We encourage you to more strongly promote science-based educational materials on COVID and Long COVID to students, staff, and the campus community. Throughout the ongoing pandemic, there has been robust scholarly activity relevant to COVID’s impacts on our campus, and we encourage you to highlight these efforts. Protecting UW campuses and the surrounding communities through the above actions puts UW’s commitment to inclusion into action and moves us forward toward a safer and healthier future for the people of Wisconsin.
Sincerely,
Members of Wisconsin Community Health Action
Institutions are listed for identification purposes only
Kaitlin Sundling, BS ’05, PhD Biophysics ’12, MD ’13, UWSMPH Pathology Residency ’17
Karl Broman, UWSMPH Professor
Susan Nossal, PhD ’94, Academic Staff, UW-Madison
Natalia Thompson
Fiona Abbott
Stephen Burns
Jane Evered, UWSMPH Academic Staff
Hilary Habeck Hunt PhDx26, Comment: As a student with long COVID, I desperately need UW to provide more resources, both to me and others who will end up like me.
Melissa Marver, UWSMPH PhD ’22
And petition signees (as of 9/23/2024)
Michelle Fisher, University Staff, UW-Madison Libraries & MA LIS Student, iSchool
Anjo Brekalo
Emily Nott
Emily Reynolds
Lauren Altaweel, UW Madison class of '21
Beth Rettenmund, Emeritus
Erin Jonaitis
Corey Ohlson-Rappe
Cassie Hatzfeld
Erin Miller
Sean Radcliffe - Community Member
Susan Fisk
Hannah Lieberman, Comment: As an alum, I strongly oppose mask bans on campus. The pandemic continues and many students, staff and faculty have compromised immune systems that require they MUST mask.
Darlene Baker, Comment: As an RN who's mother just passed away from covid please allow masks. A ban is ridiculous when students come home to family after being in a cesspool of germs in classes.
Lucy Hodgman
Joseph Walston
Christine Rowe, B.S. in Health Education, Comment: It is extremely important that you not only allow masking, but you also provide them for students as well as test kits. Please also provide Updated Vaccines for not only Covid but other transmittable diseases.
Gabrielle Dawn Lawhon, PhD
Deborah Santor
Sally A Martin, BS'73 (and also the parent of 4 UW Madison graduates), Comment: Please take this seriously. Put politics aside and act in the name of science and what is morally responsible.
Stuart Gilkison, Comment: For the sake of the sick!
Susan Musche
Dan Fitch, Comment: Our treatment of COVID by pretending it doesn't exist is killing and disabling people. Mask bans are another level of neoliberal horrorshow. Banning the only thing that is keeping people safe from airborne disease is beyond cruel and foolish.
Jessica Oswald
Preston Austin, BS Psychology
Renata Colwell
Kathy Powers, Comment: Campus COVID stats could be posted regularly.
Carmen Berzinski
Stephanie Schmit
Robert Sundling, BS Mathematics '99
Jack Sanders
Rachel Steuer, UWEC, Class of 2011, Former Inbound/Outbound Monility Coordinator in CIE, UWEC 2016-2022
Sarah Benforado
Jennifer Everson
Teagan Ferraresi
Erica Case
mc burkhardt
Miranda Alksnis
Barbara B.
Kim Ammons
Janet Schuresko
Nadia Alam
K Fuchs
Sarah Cahill, Comment: As a UW-Madison alum and former Madison resident for 7 years, one of the things that made me proudest about our town was our willingness to listen to science and protect our community. Please be part of the solution for Badgers.
Renee Prisble, Comment: There's a huge covid surge right now!
Melissa Augustine, Comment: covid support is community care. mask bans support the genocide of disabled persons and ensures our removal from public life
Luis Martinez
christine beck, Comment: As an RN I have seen how the spread of viruses like COVID and Flu and RSV can be greatly reduced through the use of masks.
Philip Beck
Amy Ludeman
Artace Kelting
Mary Stoffel, Comment: Public health be damned, I guess!
Anna Accardi
Lena Berry
Nkosi Evans
Malinda Barberio
Nancy Bird
Jenny Bright
Zoe Ryan
Abigail Thomas
Mindy Preston, Comment: I am a member of academic staff at the University of Wisconsin - Madison and urge our leadership to oppose any mask ban that may be proposed. I mask while indoors to protect my coworkers and vulnerable members of my community.
Holly Schaal
David Hornemann
Sheila Drefahl
Rachel Seizer
Beth Clarke, UW-Madison alum, 2000
Sarah Krause, Comment: I'd like to continue working with UW art department while protecting myself and others with a mask. This needs to be supported and encouraged.
Miriam Cherry
Jacob Krch, Comment: Masking is one of the most effective strategies we have against COVID infection. To ban this common sense measure in the face of anti-science, political pressure would be irresponsible.
Scott Valdes
Diane Laubenstein, Comment: Students and staff should be able to wear a mask for their safety or the safety of others if they're sick. Please don't oppose them like some universities have. Thank you.
JERL RICHMOND, Comment: I oppose mask bans and support public health on campus, including basic COVID resources. UW-Madison, Academic Staff, Emeritus.
Sherrie Vick, Comment: Masks are necessity for many. Not the right answer!
Aspasia Eleni Paltoglou
Jesse Klausmeier, Alumni 2004
Edward Hubbard
Jennifer Rygiewicz
Eva Jackson
Claudia Martin
Marcia Cohen Zakai, Comment: This letter is extraordinary! It explains why mask bans are the opposite of what we need in every university community, but it doesn't stop there. It provides a blueprint of how protective measures can be implemented to protect everyone. I hope every campus, including those in California where I live, will follow Dr. Sundling's leadership.
Lauren Frankel
Brandon Frank, Comment: Let's be proactive and learn from our recent past. We know masks work and help keep people in classes which is important for mental health and education. Please do the right thing. Bless you all.
Mary Kay Mc Mahon, Comment: Obviously, you would not ban masks of you knew the issues that Covid infections cause: damage to organs, the brain, etc.
Catherine Marler, Professor concerned about avoiding covid and especially long covid effects
Lydia Zepeda
Paula Gottlieb
Jessey Gilley, Comment: Please allow students and others to wear masks. Universities are places of learning and science overwhelmingly supports the efficacy of masking. Some are at extremely high risk or have friends and loved ones who are. Please stand up for science and inclusion by allowing people to mask on campus.
Rachel Robillard
Andrew Turner
Z B (undergrad)
Susan Graham
M Russell
Kaitlin Marquardt, Biochem BS '11, MS '13
Jess Draws, MSW '17, Outreach Program Manager, Center for Health Enhancement Systems Studies
Cecil Wilson Ph.D., Slavic Languages and Literatures 2020
Katherine Briggs
Sara Gia Trongone
Adrienne Pagac
Amihan Huesmann, Ph.D. 2004 (Physics), academic staff
Hollis Howe
Alexandra Love
NM, full time faculty/staff
Helen Rottier, Comment: As a disabled alum and the program coordinator of the Disability Cultural Center on campus, I strongly support the request that campus leaders stand firm on keeping our community safe through mask wearing, clean air, and other protective measures.
Ines Dupupet
Paul Lata
Lariisa Stewart
Kayla Kuo
Peggy Maertz, Comment: COVID is still killing people or making them seriously ill. Don't ban masks. Provide COVID resources.
Abi Schaefer, Comment: I am a resident in Madison and near campus, alumni and previously employed by the university.
Brian Davis, Comment: Let us be leaders in health.
Karen Fraley
Suzanne Askey, Comment: As a past student of UW-Madison I am asking the university to support masks during this ongoing pandemic.
Seven Blond
Heather McTammany
Scott Menor
Caitlin Langer
Kelly Hoppe
Cathleen Mahome
Amy Wiberley-Bradford (Academic staff; PhD '08)
Allison Adelman, PhD (my parents are UW-Madison senior auditors and retired from careers at UW-Whitewater and UW-Madison)
Bonnie Smith
Helen Beutler
Gretchen Musa, Comment: I'm signing because I have a son in college and he masks to protect me so that when he comes home he doesn't bring me any diseases, as I am immunocompromised. I think he'd probably also experience great anxiety without being allowed to mask on campus; he says sometimes he likes the anonymity it provides. He's a top student and thinks of others. He's there on a scholarship!
Lachrista Greco
Linda Green, Comment: Please provide testing and masks on campus
Paula Gottlieb
Maureen Hall
Lydia Seifter
Damon Rygiewicz
Virginia Nelson
Mike Heidenberg
Patrice Day, Comment: As a life-long Wisconsin resident, a PhD graduate from UWM and former employee who happens to be immunocompromised I am appalled that you would put the lives of people such as me in danger by instituting mask bans. Masks save lives and fear of students engaging in free speech via protest is anathema to everything that the Wisconsin Idea and academic freedom stand for. I am horrified that this is being considered. Consider our donation through our will revoked.
Michael Day, Comment: Masks save lives! Mask bans are unconcienable and unconstutional. All my support (financial included) will be revoked if masks are banned.
Michael Noll, Comment: A mask ban would be unnecessarily harmful, especially for the immunocompromised. Thanks!
Marisue Drumm
Colleen Dickey
Mary Jo Sundling
Susan Barthel
Katharine Beutner (Associate professor of English, UW-Milwaukee)
Karlie Alldredge
Maria Ziegelbauer, Comment: As a UW-Milwaukee student who still wears a mask for my own health and for that of those around me, a mask ban would effectively take away my access to a public education as I would not be able to safely attend classes. I already have been coughed at by other students while walking to my classes, and it is far from a friendly environment towards immunocompromised people on campus in general. Ignoring every other step the UW system could take to keep all students safe and healthy while making sure they feel welcomed on campus, preventing a mask ban is the least you can do to ensure there is truly equal access to education.
Susan Musche
Noreen Shaughnessy
Ralph Sundling, Retired after 30 years of service as a Food Service Administrator at UWHC and Assistant Food Service Director at both the WI Union and UW Housing in Madison, WI
shema Ross
John Rummel (Madison resident)
Willow Wallis
Bruce Thomadsen
Stephen Kwok
Scott Valdes
Danielle Devereaux-Weber
Jill Schneider, UW-Madison Senior Auditor Student
Shayna Medinger
Ben Plunkett
Caroline Blanchard
Darcy Hackel, 1990 alumni
Ian Stapleton Cordasco
Nero Grok-Gallagher
Monica K. Allen, MM, SMU '05; BA Music, UWEC '02, I write to you on day 31 of testing positive for Covid on home rapid tests and continuous masking. Access to testing and high-quality masks are the only things protecting my family and others at the moment. It is ESSENTIAL that you take seriously the ongoing Covid pandemic, proactively prevent mask bans, and widely offer public health tools that will keep your campuses safer and healthier.
Dawn Ziegler, Comment: The knowledge gained from masking shouldn't be ignored.
Emily Shelley
Keith Morioka
Jenn Noboise
Avi Mulhern
Danielle Sellmer
J X
Michelette Richardson
Melissa Stricklin
Jenette Fornof , Comment: My husband died of Covid
ELIZABETH SCHEELKEITA, Comment: It is appalling that anyone is even considering this with masks being so helpful to reduce the spread of disease and preventing disease is a disability justice issue.
Jennylynde Renteria-Packham, Comment: As an RN who works at UW Health, I am proud to be associated with one UW entity that still takes COVID seriously. I'd love to include the UW system in that hometown pride.
Allee Hochmuth
Dr. Hanna McIntosh, Researcher, Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems
Susie Bice
Barret Elward
Maddie Arthur, Former staff & alumnus
R R, UW Alumni 2019, Comment: I have 2 autoimmune diseases that make me severely high risk. I'm lucky to have finished my degree before the start of the pandemic. We deserve safe places to go to school and i highly oppose mask bans as it would bring back ugly bills/bans that would keep those of us who are highrisk/have disabilities from participating. We should never have to be interrogated as to why we are masking, and anyone should be able to protect their health, not just those of us who are considered high risk. We are all high risk as covid can damage any part of the human body, healthy or not. Thank you.
Frances Ellsworth , Alumnus
Harry Richardson
Aicha Amiri
Megan Syverson , Comment: As a Madison resident and neighbor to many UW faculty and staff, I think it is the responsibility of an institution of this size to take these reasonable steps to limit spread of disease on campus, for the health of everyone in the city.
Teagan Ferraresi
amadi ozier