ASUI rejected a resolution Wednesday calling for Idaho Gov. Brad Little to rescind his executive order.
Following its introduction last week, ASUI voted to reject the resolution calling for Gov. Little to rescind his executive order banning vaccine passports as well as vaccine mandates implemented by state institutions. This would allow of individual universities to decide whether to implement vaccine mandates. The resolution was rejected following student attendees voicing their opposition during the open forum.
According to co-author of the resolution, ASUI Director of Legislative Affairs Lydia McRoberts, the now-rejected resolution was introduced with the “intention of (bringing) back choice to the University of Idaho.” The underlying intent was not to bring about a vaccine mandate, McRoberts said.
Though the intent of the resolution was not to mandate a vaccine, a number of students attended the ASUI senate meeting to voice concerns regarding what they felt the revision of Little’s executive order would mean for UI. Among the students outside of ASUI who spoke in the open forum, each cited the lack of individual choice as the root of their opposition.
“The people on this campus and in Idaho who have not taken the COVID-19 vaccine already have chosen not to do so for a variety of reasons,” student attendee Mary Abigail Silverberg said. “Executive Order 2021-04 issued by Gov. Little protects our right to make our own health care decisions.”
Fears about stripping away bodily autonomy were also addressed by Annalise DeVries, who was also a student in attendance for the open forum.
“I live in a sorority, and I speak for the vast majority of my living group when I say we want the freedom to choose,” DeVries said. “Choosing to get the vaccination is not a black or white decision… there are many factors that play into each individual’s decision, each person should be able to decide what is best for themselves. For me personally, the risk of infertility is one I’m not willing to take.”
While infertility was mentioned as a concern of DeVries during her discussion of the resolution, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there is currently no evidence indicating that any COVID-19 vaccine causes infertility in men or women.
The resolution, which was ultimately voted down by ASUI senators, was not voted on to speak to individual vaccination statuses.
“Opposing this bill is not taking on an anti-vaxxer stance,” Sen. Tanner McClain said. “I am vaccinated, yet I’m still voting against it.”
This sentiment was similarly echoed by Sen. Kayla Nguyen.
“I’m in full support of the vaccine, but I also support us as individuals having the right to choose,” Nguyen said. “This resolution may benefit the university’s autonomy, but not its students’ medical autonomy.”
Discussion over vaccines will continue into the following ASUI sessions, after the introduction of an additional resolution encouraging students participating in in-person classes and events to be vaccinated against COVID-19.
Sen. Herman Roberts positioned the resolution as a necessary step for students who want a return to normalcy on campus.
“Being a sophomore at the UI, to my knowledge, I’ve never participated in an event or activity on campus that was normal,” Roberts said. “This is my third semester and I’m super frustrated and disappointed that I will not get a regular underclassman experience … If you can also relate to these feelings, I offer a pretty easy and obvious solution: get vaccinated.”
Royce McCandless can be reached at [email protected] or Twitter @roycemccandless