By Christopher Cassidy
Since the start of the pandemic, wearing masks has become a norm for most people trying to shield themselves from sickness.
For the entirety of the 2020 school year, all students and faculty were required to wear masks everywhere they went and were asked to get tested twice a week to monitor the number of positive cases.
With the releases of vaccines, the school adjusted the rules behind mask wearing for this school year.
Stonehill has a schoolwide vaccination rate of 98 percent, which means that the school only mandates students to wear masks in classrooms and other buildings that are not their residence halls.
All athletes who are working out in the weight room need to have a mask on unless they are taking a sip of water.
“It is definitely a little frustrating with the masks,” junior men’s soccer goalkeeper Anthony Bellomo said. “We will sacrifice wearing a mask to be able to be in there and continue to move forward with our season.”
Stonehill Men’s soccer played four games last spring when sports began, two of which were against Bentley.
The team hopes to have a full season as things slowly get back to normal.
“We have had a lot of opportunities taken away from us over the past two years,” Bellomo said. “I am a junior and this is my first actual season here in the fall, so whatever is asked of me I’m going to do.”
Defensive lineman Stephen Cobbs emphasized what Bellomo mentioned about abiding by the rules on campus.
“It is difficult having to wear the mask during workouts,” Cobbs said. “Yet it is still important to protect each other and prevent us from being put into quarantine situations.”
Cobbs mentioned multiple benefits that can be gained from wearing the mask while working out.
“I see it being difficult having to breathe through the mask, but it gives us extra adversity before a game day.” He said. “On game days we are going to be exhausted and the mask gives us a sense of what it will feel like when it's late in the game and the team is tired.”
As students continue to get vaccinated and follow the rules on campus, the school will monitor each situation carefully and adjust procedures based on results.
SGA (Student Government Association) Executive-board President Tahj Valentine and Diversity Chair Stephen Cobbs spoke with upper administration about the steps they will take and their number one priority on campus is student safety.
Student athletes are aware that masks are important to wear to maintain everyone's safety on campus and they are willing to risk a face covering as long as their seasons are played.