Disability Caucus Statement on Mask Mandate Repeal

We the Disability Caucus of the GEO are appalled with the University’s decision to repeal the in-class mask mandate for Summer 2022. As of May 11, 2022, the 7-day average COVID-19 positivity rate on campus is 4.25%, there have been 369 cases in the past week, and a new subvariant of Omicron, BA 2.12.1, is poised to become dominant in the US in the next week. For many d/Disabled people, a positive COVID-19 diagnosis is still a death sentence. While vaccines cannot prevent transmission, masks have proven to be very effective in doing so. In spite of these worsening conditions, you have repealed the in-class mask mandate once again proving you value profits over the lives of d/Disabled workers. This decision is deadly. We, the d/Disabled graduate workers of the GEO, urge you to reinstate the mask mandate in classrooms and all indoor university spaces. We are not disposable. We will not be sacrificed.

In Solidarity,

Graduate Employees’ Organization
809 S. 5th St., Geneva Room
Champaign, IL 61820
Email: geo@uigeo.org

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The Graduate Employees’ Organization, AFT/IFT Local 6300, AFL-CIO, at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, represents approximately 2,700 Teaching and Graduate Assistants on the UIUC Campus. In November 2009 and in February 2018, over 1,000 GEO members and allies participated in a strike to secure a fair contract and more accessible UIUC campus. With an active presence in the community, the GEO continues to work for high-quality and accessible public education in Illinois.

For more information, please contact geo@uigeo.org. More information can also be found on GEO’s website at www.uiucgeo.org.

Twitter: @geo_uiuc

Facebook: @uigeo @geosolcomm

Instagram: @geo_uiuc