By Alora Peters, Editor-in-Chief
I don’t feel that I need to argue the point that drinking water is important or that staying hydrated is a crucial part of staying healthy. Then again, until a few weeks ago, I wouldn’t have thought that I would need to argue for permission to drink water, either.
On the first day of class in Fall 2021, I was surprised and perplexed when, in the middle of snatching a quick sip of water, my professor hurriedly informed me that, unfortunately, I was not allowed to drink anything during class because drinking would involve removing my mask and potentially exposing everyone else in the classroom to COVID-19.
To begin, this stance—that drinking water while in the classroom is dangerous and should be prohibited—is inconsistent with other statements and policies made by Saint Leo University that are related to preventing the spread of the coronavirus.
In the “Framework for Advancing the Pride” guidelines, the university has stressed that the “[u]se of a face mask or covering is a crucial tool in minimizing the risks to other community members.” Signs posted around campus also read that wearing masks helps “to protect our community’s health.” These statements indicate the university’s belief that, not only will wearing a mask prevent an individual from spreading COVID-19, but that wearing a mask will also protect an individual from catching COVID-19. Following this assumption, if a student in a classroom were to briefly remove his or her mask for a drink of water and chanced to expel coronavirus-carrying particles into the air, other classmates—who were properly wearing masks—would nonetheless still be protected by their masks.
Other university policies reveal even more discrepancies. This semester, Saint Leo announced that “[d]ining services at all three locations will be open for students at full capacity… [s]ervice in our Dining Hall will return to full capacity for students.” This means that multiple students are now allowed to eat and drink in community with others within the Dining Hall, at Benedict’s Coffeehouse, and on the first floor of the Student Community Center. If the university has declared that it is safe enough for multiple students—presumably unmasked—to eat together in an enclosed indoor space, the university should also be able to declare that it is safe enough for one student in a classroom full of masked classmates to briefly remove a mask for hydration.
In conclusion, now—more than ever—seems like a reasonable time to remain calm, stay consistent, and let the students drink an occasional sip of water.
