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Outstanding job @HarrisonAKirk and @ByCatherine_ reporting on "Power imbalance in COVID-19 enforcement" and speaking truth to power. I have some thoughts, so brief 
https://mustangnews.net/power-imbalance-in-covid-19-enforcement/ via @CPMustangNews
https://mustangnews.net/power-imbalance-in-covid-19-enforcement/ via @CPMustangNews
I am *extremely* disturbed that my departmental colleague PF is presenting such antiscientific, Covid-minimizing rhetoric to our students as if it is factual. Not only is it scientifically wrong, but it is stunningly callous-Our students have suffered losses in their families.
It's also dangerous. These lectures were presented at a time when the virus was spiking. PFs scientifically wrong assertion that masks don't work to prevent transmission gave students tacit permission not to wear them. This permits more virus to spread.
I'm not going to spend my time and energy documenting all of the many individual studies that show the efficacy of masks. But here is one comprehensive recent summary of epidemiological data. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2776536
It is honestly laughable that an experiment that PF did by himself in a rinky dink microbiology lab at Cal Poly is what he holds up against the vast multitude of epidemiological and ecological studies that masks are effective vs. SARS-CoV-2 transmission.
PF not only spreads misinformation when he says that masks don't work, but by not wearing one himself w students in lab, creates an environment where they don't feel safe. Doesn't matter how often he's tested-students are tested too.Testing & masking are additive risk reduction
In addition, by pointing out (as he did in this article) his adjacency to power in that he serves as an advisor to President Armstrong, he amplifies a power differential that is already there. What student will feel comfortable reporting under those circumstances?
Covid-19 is not "just the flu"- for many many reasons (higher IFR, multi system involvement, Long Covid, more transmissible etc etc) No amount of cherry picking data will make it so, and minimizing this disease at the (world wide) height of the pandemic is offensive.
ALL students deserve to feel & be safe on campus from both Covid-19 & racism. And you know what? Students have taken their share of the blame already for Covid-19 spread- but what happens when the unsafe environment is created by their faculty?
If any students feel that they are in an unsafe environment, or that they are targeted by racist comments by faculty, you can report these incidences to the OEO or ask a trusted faculty to report for you https://equalopportunity.calpoly.edu/report-to-the-oeo
Students who experience racism from their faculty can also report the incident to the Office of the Dean of Students here https://deanofstudents.calpoly.edu/content/BIRT
Dr. Yoshinobu already did an amazing job explaining why it matters that we do not use racist terms to describe this virus at a time when hate crimes against AAPI folks are spiking. See his thread here: https://twitter.com/stanyoshinobu/status/1384988613012692992?s=20
But just to amplify- Words matter. Just because we historically named infectious diseases based on location does not justify continuing to do so when we know better the repercussions. PF is knowingly propagating a racist and xenophobic narrative in his classroom.
For one example, see this article "Association of “ #covid19” Versus “ #chinesevirus” With Anti-Asian Sentiments on Twitter" https://ajph.aphapublications.org/doi/full/10.2105/AJPH.2021.306154
Finally- PF maintains that he is not alone in his views and implies that his colleagues agree. Not this colleague! I can safely say I disagree with everything that was quoted as coming from him in that article. Except perhaps this part, where he says "I'm like a 4-year-old..."
