Requiring student vaccinations, testing

Maine Community Colleges Will Require Vaccinations 

(Inside Higher Ed) 

The Maine Community College System announced Thursday it is requiring COVID vaccinations for all students. Students will now be required to show proof that they have received at least one dose of a vaccine before the first day of classes on Aug. 30, and proof of a second vaccine shot 30 days after the start of classes. 

Stanford Requires Weekly Testing of Students -- Even With Vaccines Required 

(Inside Higher Ed) 

Stanford University will require students to be tested weekly for COVID-19 -- even if they have been vaccinated. (The vast majority of students have been vaccinated under a university rule.) 

An email to students Wednesday said that the new rule applies to "students living on campus, living in university provided off-campus student housing, or coming to campus, regardless of vaccination status."

Supreme Court Won't Block Indiana Vaccine Mandate  

(Inside Higher Ed) 

Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett, without comment, turned down an appeal of a U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit ruling denying an injunction against an Indiana University rule requiring all students to be vaccinated against COVID-19. Writing for a three-judge panel on the Seventh Circuit, Judge Frank Easterbrook wrote, "People who do not want to be vaccinated may go elsewhere. Many universities require vaccination against SARS-CoV-2, but many others do not. Plaintiffs have ample educational opportunities." 

Eight students sued seeking the injunction. 

Justice Barrett handles appeals from the Seventh Circuit.

* * *

Communication to employees by SOCCCD Chancellor on Wednesday (the 11th): 

Greetings SOCCCD Employees: 

In light of the increase in COVID cases and the trend in positivity rates of the Delta variant—SOCCCD will delay the full return to worksites until some metrics have improved county-wide. 

I have asked the leadership at both colleges to phase in some of their original fall return-to-campus plans more slowly until our county data improves and the metrics fall to a daily case rate of fewer than 10 per 100,000 on a seven (7) day average throughout Orange County. Additionally, we will look for a positivity rate of less than five percent (5%) county-wide on a seven (7) day average. We expect that these metrics will be met sometime in late September/early October 2021. Updates will be provided as necessary to ensure that you are informed about plans to return to onsite work districtwide. 

I understand that last minute changes in plans can be unsettling, but we continue to be flexible and to respond to the changes in the data as it impacts the health and safety of all who learn and work with us....

[I've deleted some details.]

Thank you for your time and patience and please alert us of any questions or concerns.

Sincerely, 

Kathleen F. Burke, Ed.D. 

Chancellor

NOTE: thus far, the SOCCCD district/colleges have not mandated vaccines for students or faculty, though the district is contemplating a $1000 incentive program for employees.

SOCCCD employees: a $1000 incentive to get vaccinated?

On the 11th, I received this remarkable message from the district (the VC, Human Resources):

Colleagues, SOCCCD is pleased to announce a new vaccination incentive program for District employees that will be recommended to the SOCCCD Board of Trustees for approval at the August 23, 2021 Board Meeting. Employees who meet specific eligibility requirements will receive $1,000 (gross—per employee) if they produce verifiable evidence of vaccination. Eligible employees will be required to be currently employed on September 1, 2021 (see additional criteria below for PT faculty who will be working in spring 2022 only). 

Vaccination records shall be subject to verification through the California database. It is the employee’s responsibility to ensure that the State of California has the correct information related to the verification of your vaccination record. Unverified records will be deemed ineligible for the incentive, shall be fully investigated, and disciplinary action may be initiated if an employee is discovered to have submitted fraudulent/forged records…. 

[I’ve deleted the remaining details.] 

—Cindy Vyskocil, Ed.D. 

Vice Chancellor, Human Resources 

South Orange County Community College District

ALSO:

A new and rapidly growing Christian movement is openly political, wants a nation under God’s authority, and is central to Donald Trump’s GOP 

(The Washington Post)

—Meanwhile, as far as I know, there is no move afoot—in the district—to embrace vaccine mandates for students and employees. Why not?

MEANWHILE:  Orange County Board of Education will sue Newsom over face masks 

OC Register

Board members say that Gov. Newsom has misused his power “in a way that threatens serious harm to Orange County’s children.”

Stern's argument contra vaccine mandates (at community colleges)

The Case Against Vaccine Mandates at Community Colleges [click on link]

—Dr. Elliot Stern, President, Saddleback College  

Ain't misbehavin'

 

...An odd combo, I know

“Go the fuck back to VIETNAM,” he shouted — it's yet another meeting of the OC Board of Supes

Rebel Girl called a couple of days ago and urged me to check out the video of the last meeting of the Orange County BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, which, as you know, can be mighty wild these days, what with all the red-neckery out there. 

So I did. Here are some of the highlights (er, lowlights): 

The first half of the meeting can be found here:

FIRST HALF

Things heat up for item 40A at about 57 minutes in: 

S40A. Chairman Do and Supervisor Wagner - Allocate $20 million exclusively for site development of Veterans portion of Mountain Park Cemetery, Anaheim 

The issue concerns the establishment of an OC Veterans’ Cemetery. For some time, the City of Irvine played around with the idea of including such a facility as part of the so-called “Great Park” (you’ll recall that, for several years, Don Wagner was Irvine’s mayor) but that kept coming to grief (the “quagmire of Irvine”). Eventually, to get the project moving forward, another location was proposed—in a portion of Mountain Park Cemetery, Anaheim. Item 40A is that effort. Wagner supports it, as does chairman Andrew Do. 

At 1:08, one of the supporters of the “Irvine” proposal insists on speaking past his 1 minute limit, and chairman Do gets the deputies involved to remove the guy. Check it out. “Your time is up,” declares Do. 

1:12 “your microphone is off now” 

Supe Don Wagner

1:15 Wagner “takes the lead” in defending his item 40A. He explains why the pro-Veterans’ Cemetery idea has become the pro-40A idea. The idea of locating the cemetery in Irvine is dead and gone. Deal with it.

Things heat up again for item 38 [2:20:46]: 

38. Approve proposed response to FY 2020-21 Grand Jury Report "Orange County Pandemic Preparedness." 

There’s 1 speaker request, someone named Bridget. She starts to speak, but Supervisor Katrina Foley objects to something, not sure what [2:21:12]. All of a sudden, Bridget is replaced at the podium with another person: 

Go to 2:21:37 

The "Boat Guy"

This person—whom Peggy Hall, sitting immediately behind the speaker stand, really seems to like—is angry. First, this fella (and/or gal) suggests that Do is silencing speakers he doesn’t want to hear from. He yells, “Shame on you! I don’t care that you came over [from Vietnam] in a boat! [Do is a Republican, no Communist.] You came over on a boat from a COMMUNIST COUNTRY [and] you ain’t gonna make this a COMMUNIST COUNTY, Mr. Chairman!” [The crowd loves it.] Then he objects to Do’s action of reducing public comment time to 30 seconds[?]. [Actually, faced with a large number of speakers, Do reduced it to 60 seconds.] “You need to hear from the public!” Boat Man insists. He notes, too, that the board keeps violating the Brown act. “Shame on you,” he yells (I'll stick with "he"). 

Wow. 

Item passes. 

They move on to item 39. 

Foley interrupts [2:23:12]: In all the “chaos,” Supervisor Foley was not able to discuss the merits of item 38. 

They return to it. 

Supe Katrina Foley

Katrina Foley, the newest member and a Democrat, has distinguished herself by pushing for greater safety measures in response to the pandemic, and that has produced considerable push-back from the usual suspects, who have even gathered outside her home in protest.

Here, she mentions some problems in the verbiage of the item. 

The next HOT item is 40G [2:32:28]: 

S40G. County Executive Office and Sheriff-Coroner - Approve revised mutual aid agreement for COVID-19 vaccination effort; authorize Director of Emergency Management Division to execute agreements with partner agencies; and authorize Auditor-Controller to make related payments and reimburse…. 

2:33 - the natives are restless. Foley objects to “disruption in the chamber,” which, she says, is “unacceptable.” 

Item 40G: public comments [42 requests] 

Chairman Do calls for order. The crowd quiets down a bit. There’s some confusion about the first speaker. 

2:34:47 The first speaker: “You are making a mistake,” says Angie. “Depart from evil,” she says. (Peggy Hall can be seen seated immediately behind her.) Angie ends by quoting scripture 

2:36:22 Next guy: Native American (?) does not want “experimentation” on people via vaccines. Refers to blankets laced with smallpox. 

Next guy: It’s an “agenda of coercion,” he says. Going to people’s homes and twisting their arms. Informed consent is not being given. 

The "Boat Guy" addresses the board

Next speaker: there’s a risk in everything. I’m not against vaccines; I’m against mandating them. Those who oppose the mandates are not like “drunk drivers,” the Governor’s analogy. Mentions “internment camps.” 

2:40:06 This person is identified as “Rick W”: he compares the current government with the government of Nazi Germany. “Mr. Do, you’re from Vietnam. And I almost was drafted to go over there and fight for your people, and it blows me away how you’re over here dictating all this….! …You’re headed down the same things Hitler was doing…” 

2:40 The speaker refers to "ludicrous" mandates in schools “and you support them!” As he walks away, he mutters: “you guys suck.” 

2:42:26 How would you like to be on the list to be killed! Recall, recall, recall! We don’t want to be killed! [Peggy applauds.] “We want you to listen to common sense instead of the CHINESE COMMUNIST PARTY!” 

[Much whooping.] 

2:43:38 My wife and I got Covid but my son never got sick. How come? Why should he have to get the vaccine? 

2:44:52 Reads from some deposition, but it never becomes clear how any of it is relevant. Something about Covid being a “biological weapon.” 

2:46:13 The vaccine is experimental. “This is all false data…” 

Saddleback College's Peggy Hall:
"frauds, fakes, and phonies."

2:47:27 Saddleback College’s own PEGGY HALL speaks: “This board is required to follow the law.” Cites the definition of an “emergency.” “There is no emergency.” “You are all frauds, fakes, and phonies.” Violation of the Brown Act. I’m gonna pray for you. “Wagner, your behavior is so unbecoming; it’s very embarrassing for you.” 

2:48:50 Everyone waits for an old man to shuffle up to the podium. [It's like a scene from Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In] The Covid vaccine effort is a clear threat to our speech and freedom.” We did not consent to using tax dollars to be bullied. “God bless America!” [Whooping crowd.] Peggy applauds. 

2:49:50 Emma Clark: “Americans were against World War II, until FDR tricked Japan into bombing Pearl Harbor.” [!] Americans went to war because our way of life was being threatened. “With the Covid-19 vaccine agenda, it is being threatened.” Where is the evidence of an actual health emergency? She ends with: “The 1st Amendment is first for a reason; and the second is just in case the first doesn’t work. Your time is up.” 

[Much whooping.] 

2:50:56 “Good day, Board of COMMUNISTS.” “These [he refers to board members] are bought and paid-for politicians; there’s somebody who funded them, put them in their seats; they answer to somebody else…. They’re passing forth an agenda.” They won’t speak with us and can’t answer our questions and concerns. [We see Peggy clutching her little dog in the background.] No evidence of health emergency. 

[The crowd gets rowdy.] 

2:52:10 Show me the evidence! No evidence of an emergency! [Peggy clutches her little dog.] This is really a “cash cow.” “Medical apartheid.” 

2:53:20 The original “BOAT” guy is back. We should beware of the “medical industrial complex,” he says. These people the County wants to hire are protected from litigation. “That’s what they’re not telling you, people!” “This is Homeland Security run a-blanking-mok.” “Are you blanking-kidding me?” “You’re not gonna be able to go to church, the gym, Costco without showing …– it’s a hidden agenda!” 

Chairman
Andrew Do

2:54:31 Tyler: “All you parasites have blood on your hands for pushing these vaccine passports!” They’re committing fraud. In fact, the guy who “created PCR” “died mysteriously two months before Wuhan” because he exposed Fauci. [Peggy nods approvingly.] He refers to “you parasitic clowns!” “Mr. Do, what’s going on in your country, Vietnam, is 4,000 little kids who are in quarantine camps away from their parents because of this fake scamdemic, and you come to MY COUNTRY and you act like one of these COMMUNIST PARASITES; I ask you to go the fuck back to VIETNAM! 

2:55:46 Middle-aged German woman speaks. There are people forced to take vaccine in Germany, she says. They get sick! 

Julie: vote no on G. So proud to be part of this group. People should be taking vitamins. You should offer free classes for exercise! 

Myrna: Mr Do, you are so rude. Terminate the state of emergency now. There is no emergency. Immoral. Blood money. 

Woman: Stop the funding for vaccine, the door-to-door jab! Fraud! Never mind the facts; you’ve made up your minds. There is a god. Don’t you ever forget that! You will be held accountable! 

3:01:05 Woman: attributes her daughter’s suicidal tendencies to the vaccine effort. Scamdemic! “This is our hill to die on.” We will fight tooth, nail, and gunpoint to make sure our children are no longer harmed by masks and…forced vaccinations. So, board of paid propaganda, know this: you better hope that you’re willing to go all the way with blood on your hands because I am.” 

3:02:10 I want to comment on the surveillance being proposed. Implemented in Communist China. “Repent or you’ll die. In Jesus’ name!” (Peggy really liked that). 

3:03:16 Woman: there’s a lot of anger. You have become our enemies.

3:04:35 Man: opposes door-to-door vaccine services, a form of coercion. No informed consent. 

3:05:11 Young woman: I am firmly oppose to this item. The vaccine is experimental. President Do, “why are you bringing communism to OC?” “My generation sees the communism coming!...We [young people] are going to do whatever it takes to fight against this.” 

Woman, Laura D.: Immunization agenda. A tracking system. 

Woman: we the people do not consent! You’re all corrupt, complicit 

Man, Edwin C.: Where is the state of emergency? .

Woman: I pray for you. You are coercing people to take gene therapy. You should accept Jesus Christ as your personal savior. You are enforcing this emergency. Turn away from evil. (Peggy likes that.) 

3:12:12 Michael Adam: drove all night to be here. “I haven’t slept in two days.” “This is an evil world mafia that’s going on right now with this Covid. Absolutely.” “You’re being used as puppets.” (Peggy nods.) “Mr. Do, they’re dong nasty things in Vietnam because they’re under Communist control over there, and YOU KNOW IT, TOO.” 

[Much whooping.] 

Woman: nothing can be mandated. Not masks, shots. 

(No further speakers.) 

Golly. Supervisor Don Wagner speaks: 

[3:14:54] He questions some assumptions made by many of the speakers: that sheriffs will be coming to knock on doors? Nah, no such thing is planned. Enforcement of mask-wearing?, cops going door to door? Nope. None of that is involved here. 

And so the item is not opposed by any board member. The item passes. 

The crowd is disheartened, restless. 

The board goes into closed session. 

Peggy

AFTER RECESS: 

SECOND HALF

Public comments [1:55]: 

The BOAT GUY, returns, discussing litigation against the County government. “You committed fraud!” he roars. 

Christian M: a member of IBEW electrical union has a beef about something. 

Woman: You’re rude [Mr. Do]. It's wrong what you’re doing to speakers, discouraging people from coming here. What are you hiding? 

Ann: she’s here about the Dana Point harbor issue. 

Woman: my daughter hasn’t committed suicide. Addresses Wagner. Trying to understand [County Health Officer] Clayton Chau. Parents are told students must be masked. They’re hands are tied! 

Woman: back to that tedious deposition. 

Woman: another boat owner about Dana Point harbor fee increases.

Man: Dana Point harbor, unfair increase in rates 

Woman: something about concentration camps. Legal grounds for state of emergency. Fauci will be criminally charged. We will not leave you off the hook! Chau is next. Fraud, corruption! 

Man: Dana Point issue again 

Man: addresses Cho, Bartlett. We need a public audit on slip rents. Where is this money going? 

A person named Kelly: vaccine coerced on citizens. Experimental vaccines. 

Woman: More on Dana Point. 

Kim S (the native American dude): “last time I was here, when I left, I was followed.” He mentions the Chinese. He doesn’t like Foley. 

Man: slip increases, Dana Point 

(At this point, all speaker names have been called:) 

Man comes up, asks: why are we only allowed 1 minute, not 3? Do: Too many speakers is why. The speaker seems utterly perplexed. Do is impatient. 

Rene M: young man objects to masks at school. Difficult to breath, learn. 

Young boy: 7th grader. Masks are hurting students. 

Another kid: wearing masks makes me stressed, … 

Do: [to all speakers:] we appreciate your speaking. He notes that, contrary to many speakers, face cover policy comes from school districts, not from the board. 

Another woman: her name was called previously but she didn’t show up. [Standard board policy is, if you don't come up when called,  you've lost your chance to speak.] 

Do: asks about commotion in the back of the hall. “Did you submit a slip?” No. “I can only call what I have.” 

Asks woman to sit down. Chairman Do waits for designated speaker to speak. Deputies called in to enforce his orders. 

[24: 20] 

Do seems discombobulated. He says that people are making asses of themselves 

25:19 Woman finally speaks: physical therapist. Human-monkey hybrids created by Chinese/US. That’s science for you. I follow Jesus, not science. 

Do: Wagner asks to speak, he does 

26:49 WAGNER: A couple of comments. First, masks in schools: that’s not in our control. Wish it was. 

2nd, owing to paperwork errors or whatnot, a couple of speakers were not able to speak. So I’ve decided to cede my time to them. 

"Go the fuck back to Vietnam!"

Do: I see one [speaker]. 

OK. 

Woman speaks. 

[27:40] 

Mr. Do, two weeks ago, you spoke in support of masks, etc. Two days later, you appeared at GOP function without a mask, no social distancing. You seem confused. Mr. Wagner, will sheriffs be knocking on people’s doors? 

So that’s the last of it. 

Do is miffed. He says to Wagner: “This is what you ceded your time for.”

SEE ALSO  

In Orange County, Anti-Vaccine Activists Attack Top Elected Official For His Vietnamese Heritage 

(LAist, Jul 30)

...Do is an outspoken critic of communism and perhaps the best-known Vietnamese American leader in Southern California. Some critics say his measures to combat COVID have not been aggressive enough compared to neighboring Los Angeles County, and they find it ironic that anti-vaccine activists are focused on him. "I think most people look at Andrew Do and say he's certainly not at the vanguard of some of these efforts to limit COVID," [State Sen. Dave] Min said....

Local Political Leaders Condemn Racist Remarks Hurled at OC Supervisors’ Chairman 

(Voice of OC; Aug 3) 

... Two years ago, Do, a Republican, publicly pushed back against language President Trump used calling on four non-white U.S. congresswomen to “go back” to their countries. Do called such language “bigotry” and related it to “hatred” he said led to assaults against his family when he was growing up as a Vietnamese refugee in Orange County. His family immigrated after South Vietnam fell to North Vietnam in 1975....

Xenophobia, racism and ignorance on display at OC board meeting 

(OC Register, Opinion; Aug 4) 

...When COVID-19 vaccines were on the agenda last week at an Orange County Board of Supervisors meeting, anti-vaccination protestors came with their typical slop trough of panic, misinformation, Nazi comparisons, conspiracy theories and even a few not-so-veiled death threats. But one person, dressed in all black with dark shades and a stocking hat and calling himself “Tyler Durden,” decided misinformation, a conspiracy about a “mysterious” death and corny quips like “scamdemic” were not enough and took to hurling racist insults at the board president, Supervisor Andrew Do....

The OC