College students are reacting to discussions of COVID-19 mandates on campuses. Cornell University announced the news via email to its students and community that returning students must be vaccinated before returning to campus next fall.

“And it was like big news for this coming semester, or something like that, and they just had written that they’ll be requiring all students returning to get a vaccine," said Cornell chemical engineering major Lena Reeb.

What You Need To Know

  • College students are reacting to discussions of COVID-19 mandates on campuses

  • Cornell University issued a mandate for students returning to campus in the fall that they must be vaccinated

  • RIT officials are encouraging the vaccine and say they are discussing the possibility of a mandate

Students at its Ithaca, Geneva, and Cornell Tech campuses are being required to get a vaccine.

Reeb is pro-vaccine and is pleased about the news. It comes as eligibility for the vaccine now includes everyone 16 years old and older in New York state.

“I thought this was a really great step for Cornell to take to ensure the safety of not only its own community, but the community in Tompkins County at large," Reeb said. "I think it’s really great that, as such a prominent institution, it’s taking a very strong stance in the pandemic in order to encourage the public’s health and safety.”

“I think vaccination is the only way how things can go back to normal, and it’s a good step going forward," said RIT graduate student Adhirag Sood.

He plans to get vaccinated, but the computer science major is not on board with mandates.

"I’m not completely satisfied with that, like I’m not completely OK with that because…You cannot say the vaccination is the only way to cope with it,” said Sood. “So mandating is not something that I’d be OK with, but availability is something that I would be more inclined towards."

Like most colleges and universities, Rochester Institute of Technology does not have a COVID-19 vaccination mandate, but officials say they are talking about it.

Sood believes making the vaccine available to everyone who chooses to get it is the best option.

“So that you don’t force anyone, but yeah, if we want things to go back normal, vaccination is one thing that will help us,” Sood said.

As for Cornell's Reeb, she said so many students want the shot, and the overall reaction on campus is a positive one.

“At least as far as I’m aware, everyone’s been so eager to get the vaccine immediately that this isn’t even like an issue and in fact, makes them feel better about the upcoming semester,” Reeb said.

Cornell states it will allow for medical and religious exemptions.