OLIVIA BEILEIN
Special to The Leader
As students returned to SUNY campuses this semester, many wondered what there was to hold for the new semester following the COVID-19 pandemic that sent many home in the spring.
SUNY chancellor Jim Malatas has launched a “Mask Up or Pack up” campaign to promote universal compliance with evidence-based COVID-19 guidelines across SUNY’s 64 colleges and universities.
The campaign showcases a video in which SUNY students start by saying things such as “I worked hard to get here.” “I want the full college experience.” and other things that will be at risk if people don’t comply with the guidelines that could send them home again.
The video has students not only making their voices heard, but also wearing masks to show how easy and simple it is to do in everyday life as a college student.
Along with this campaign, SUNY is hoping to expand it and showcase students from different campuses.
In doing so, they are calling for students to submit clips of their own for this campaign being no longer than one minute.
Submitting clips will give students a platform to express themselves during this time and spread awareness.
Junior media management major, Melena Deboe said she had not previously heard of the campaign, but now that she has, she feels “it will be very effective and motivating.”
She also said that she hopes people will now watch the video and it will “hold students accountable for their actions and decisions.”
Ryan Blatto, a senior video production major and barista at the campus Starbucks said, “My job at Starbucks is filled with new precautions every day that we have to strictly follow.”
It is important to realize that things such as not wearing a mask doesn’t just affect students, but also campus employees and many others.
Blatto feels that any exposure, such as this campaign is a great initiative for students to want to do better, even if it means needing constant reiteration and reminders.
For those interested in submitting videos of their own, “Video submissions should highlight the importance of wearing masks, social distancing, avoiding large gatherings and parties and complying with testing and tracing guidance,” Malatras said per an article for Channel 2 News Buffalo.
Once videos are received, they will be added to the current one so it can highlight those from all over the SUNY community.
For more information and to submit a video, visit the campaign’s information page on SUNY’s website.