NIC: Barnes was right

Regarding Sunday’s article titled “Push back? Careful what a state rep says.”

First glance at this article and it looks as if our local North Idaho College Trustee Michael Barnes has dug himself a hole and is not looking so good. But wait a minute; a bit of careful thought and he suddenly looks observant and thoughtful.

Idaho Law 33-2145 was being used by Trustee Howard to vehemently argue for mandatory masks on campus during a recent meeting. According to The Press, the law (33-2145) reads; “The board of trustees of each community college must adopt a policy for measures and procedures to prevent the spread of contagious or infectious disease.”

Wouldn’t that definition of contagious or infectious disease also include gonorrhea, syphilis, genital herpes, chlamydia, and other nasty sexually transmitted diseases? Would this very law open the door to the banning of all fornication and promiscuity, or all sex for that matter on campus? Could the trustees impose a mandatory chastity belt rule on campus? All in the name of Idaho 33-2145.

Maybe before jumping at the chance to make Barnes look bad the Press reporter should ask a few more questions and Mr. Amador should think of the unintended consequences of this legislation.

PHIL THOMPSON

Rathdrum