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NIC: No mask, no MacLennan

| September 1, 2021 1:00 AM

The North Idaho College Board of Trustees did the right thing voting to rescind the mask mandate. NIC President MacLennan’s last-minute, double-layer mask mandate appeared suspicious in its timing just prior to the start of school. He allegedly based his actions on rising COVID-19 cases and Kootenai Health’s “capacity concerns.”

This is a ridiculous argument given that the Idaho Division of Public Health statistics indicate there have been a total of seven college-age (18-29-year-old) deaths from COVID-19 in Idaho during this entire pandemic. Given this information, the likelihood that the low-risk, mostly asymptomatic college-age students from NIC will overflow capacity at Kootenai Health is a near impossibility.

Additionally, many studies now conclude masks don’t work. This brings me to a second point: MacLennan’s contract should in NO way be renewed. Most North Idahoans respect individual freedom, which includes the right to make our own health choices. NIC’s leadership should reflect that sentiment.

ANGELA STREET

Coeur d’Alene