Honor Freedom of Choice & Oppose COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate at Naropa

I am supposed to start an M.A. in COunseling in August but am considering withdrawing because of the requirement to be online. Due to a compromised immune system I am unable to get vaccinated--the last time I got vaccinated (Dtap vaccine), I had a health crisis beginning the day of that lasted a year and a half. Naropa is going along with dominant narrative despite there being legitimacy and science demonstrating the questionable safety of this vaccine (even if the research has been censored to the point where it doesn't appear on the first 10 pages of google results).

Personally, I will not be receiving any experimental vaccines (experimental meaning not FDA approved- as all covid-19 shots are currently authorized under the EUA). I agree with this petition: as there have been no long term studies on these shots, I feel unable to give informed consent. I was hoping that Naropa would resist the pressure to encourage medical discrimination, and am devastated that the school is seemly making an exception to their inclusive values. It’s difficult for me to envision finishing my degree while navigating this discrimination and bias.

This is a war on our SOVERIEGNTY

The Buddhist roots of this college are gone, welcome capitalism.

Please and Thank You

I want to start by saying that I disagree with the rhetoric being used on this thread that the vaccine mandate is “oppression” or “discrimination”. Private universities do, in fact, legally have the right to require immunizations. However, even though it is legally just, I do not think this vaccine mandate is morally or logistically productive. My main reasoning is because those who currently live in the residence halls who are choosing not to get vaccinated, are now being kicked out of their homes and forced to find housing elsewhere- and pay the high rent in boulder just to take classes online. So many students have uprooted their entire lives and moved to a different state to come to Naropa and are now seeing their plans for the future in jeopardy by having to consider withdrawing or taking a semester off because they are making the personal choice not to get vaccinated. This reason alone shows that compassion and empathy have been abandoned in the decision to make the covid vaccine mandatory. Current students are now having to choose whether to get the vaccine or be forced out of the residence halls and take classes online. I also want to note that me and so many other students were dissatisfied with the quality of education that was provided in the online format last year. It is clear that those who are now being forced to do online classes again this year are not receiving the same quality education that those who will attend in-person will receive. I do not feel as if anyone should have to complete their degree online if that is not their first choice to do so. It also takes away from those who are vaccinated by having to make so many classes in an online format in order to cater to those not allowed on campus, and now those who can attend classes in-person have much more limited options to chose from. I am vaccinated and I trust the science behind the covid vaccine, however I don’t mind being around people who aren’t vaccinated because I am protected. I s

All people should be able to make their own choices when it comes to their Being, we are sovereign beings

Equal access to education must be ensured for everyone.

All for freedom of choice and respect for people's autonomy of their bodies and their health.

I believe in free will and allowing people to make decisions and choices around their own health needs.

our bodies, our choices

IT IS ILLEGAL TO MANDATE THIS mRNA SHOT. NAROPA, WE ARE SHOCKED THAT YOU ARE TRYING TO FORCE THIS ON YOUR COMMUNITY; THIS IS THE ANTITHESIS OF WAHT YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO STAND FOR.

I am appalled that Naropa would mandate a ‘vaccine’ that has not even been approved by the FDA. Naropa is putting humans at potential risk with this requirement. For all that Naropa has stood for am hoping you will see the problems with this decision and do the right thing.

Body sovereignty feels like one of the main values of Naropa. Please honor that.

Being forced to make decisions about my body which will dictate the quality of education I receive is a mirage of choice.

Please let us come study in person we want to be part of the community still. We need to have a variety of thought and practice in this institution

This creates inequity for those not comfortable yet with the vaccine and a worse learning environment for all teachers and students with the hybrid option. I am vaccinated yet I support people's right to choose and feel safe being in a classroom with people who aren't vaccinated wearing masks because I am protected.

I have chosen to get vaccinated, and I want to support those who feel stuck.

No one should have the right to tell another what they should do with their bodies or discriminate against them as a result.

We have the right to choose what goes into our bodies.