The COVID-19 vaccine mandate removal was added to the draft resolution number 10 of the COVID-19 Mitigation plan during the Oct. 20 Board of Trustees meeting. 

In the draft, it states “Effective October 21, 2022, remove the COVID-19 vaccination requirement for students except where required by federal and state law, public health agencies, or appropriate governing organizations for specific programs and activities for students enrolling in spring 2023 in-person classes.”

During the public comment period, several members of the community shared their opinions regarding the addition of the removal.

Christy Lozano starts her time by reading City College’s vision, “City College strives to build a socially conscious community where knowledge and respect empower individuals to transform our world.”

“If you are implementing your vision you would respect and allow students to have that social consciousness to decide what is best for them,” Lozano said. “That’s what our country’s founded on, it’s founded on choice.” 

Lozano continues by telling the trustees that every time they vote no, they are discriminating against a group.

“It’s not a protected class yet, but it could be,” Lazano said. “But you’re still discriminating against people and not allowing them to come to this location.”

Kathryn Lape brought up student experiences with the vaccine mandate, one including Student Advocate Jonny Salmeron’s disapproval of removing the mandate.

“I just want everyone who’s voting on this to be aware of what kind of place that this policy is engendering among,” Lape said. 

Interim Superintendent-President Kindred Murillo followed the public comment by stating that throughout the process she’s consulted with different voices on campus like the Associated Student Government and the College Planning Council. 

“I have taken input from the community, students, faculty, and staff,” Murillo said. “The protocol was put in place last spring and we’ve been following it.” 

Murillo emphasizes how a two-week notice is always given before making any changes.

“The low, medium and high [tiers] have been in effect since we received our draft mitigation plan because we associated ourselves with the tiers of the CDC,” Murillo said.

The interim superintendent-president continues stating that the vaccine mandate removal didn’t impact the number of students that enrolled into late start classes beginning Monday, Oct. 24. 

“We’ve looked at the numbers, we’ve looked at everything, we’re just keeping a promise to the people we made a promise to for this fall,” Murillo said.