[Alvin]

Everybody has the right to choose. I have rights about access to my home. So does the Stanford community.

I think Alvin’s question is a bit more subtle than that. He wasn’t necessarily challenging Stanford’s right to impose a vaccine requirement but asking how the conflict between Stanford’s right to impose a vaccine requirement and student/athletes autonomy over their body conflict, whether the student athletes will resolve it by committing to a school without a vaccine requirement.

I think it is plausible, but I have no way of knowing.  Unfortunately, this has become highly politicized, and the decision to vaccinate or not vaccinate has gotten undue discussion.  To give another example, chicken pox has a similarly low risk of hospitalization and death as COVID, and in many settings, a vaccine is required without significant controversy, except among a small subsection of the population.  It’s a shame that this is the proverbial hill people are willing to die on.

BC

---

ADD: Agree with Sam that the bigger concern is the lack of results on the field, (as well as questions around the conference) I suppose that this is one of the silver linings of Shaw’s recruiting philosophy. While he doesn’t focus enough on the student athletes who are “football first” guys which has had negative consequences on the field, the “Stanford men”  he does focus on are less likely to be swayed by poor on-field results.

BC

You get my question. I have kids approaching college age and personally, from what I've read including the data, I won't allow my kids to attend a college/university that requires THIS vaccine/booster. I see only downside...and I don't think I'm part of a small, fringe minority on this issue except maybe on this board. None of the SEC schools, with the possible exception of Vanderbilt, require the Covid vaccine for enrollment. 

Yes, as posters have said, Stanford has other challenges right now such as a program struggling the past several years, conference realignment, NIL rights, convincing a kid from the deep south to leave for a program and conference in decline, California associated with increased crime and other problems, but those to me are relatively minor compared to the benefit of a Stanford degree. Only personal health I believe is more important than anything else...and many parents around the country do not feel comfortable giving their kids THIS vaccine.  My guess is, of the 50 or 60 recruits that meet Stanford's athletic and academic requirements every year, at least 10-15 will now choose not to attend Stanford anymore because of the vaccine policy. This is not the sentiment around Palo Alto, but it is more varied outside our Silicon Valley bubble ("I don't know anyone who voted for Trump"). The in-class mask policy doesn't help either, but there are ways around that - taking online only classes or classes taught by Hoover fellows who are against the mask or will set-up their classes outdoors.

Finally, I have no ulterior motive.  Just a person who cared deeply about Stanford athletics, especially football, since the late 70s...but completely turned off by the Covid policies of the past 2+ years to the point that I lost interest. More disappointed by my fellow Card fans who seemed fine presenting their papers, donning a mask, and canceling the 2020 season.

[Alvin]

Everybody has the right to choose. I have rights about access to my home. So does the Stanford community.

I think Alvin’s question is a bit more subtle than that. He wasn’t necessarily challenging Stanford’s right to impose a vaccine requirement but asking how the conflict between Stanford’s right to impose a vaccine requirement and student/athletes autonomy over their body conflict, whether the student athletes will resolve it by committing to a school without a vaccine requirement.

I think it is plausible, but I have no way of knowing.  Unfortunately, this has become highly politicized, and the decision to vaccinate or not vaccinate has gotten undue discussion.  To give another example, chicken pox has a similarly low risk of hospitalization and death as COVID, and in many settings, a vaccine is required without significant controversy, except among a small subsection of the population.  It’s a shame that this is the proverbial hill people are willing to die on.

BC

---

ADD: Agree with Sam that the bigger concern is the lack of results on the field, (as well as questions around the conference) I suppose that this is one of the silver linings of Shaw’s recruiting philosophy. While he doesn’t focus enough on the student athletes who are “football first” guys which has had negative consequences on the field, the “Stanford men”  he does focus on are less likely to be swayed by poor on-field results.

BC

You get my question. I have kids approaching college age and personally, from what I've read including the data, I won't allow my kids to attend a college/university that requires THIS vaccine/booster. I see only downside...and I don't think I'm part of a small, fringe minority on this issue except maybe on this board. None of the SEC schools, with the possible exception of Vanderbilt, require the Covid vaccine for enrollment. 

Yes, as posters have said, Stanford has other challenges right now such as a program struggling the past several years, conference realignment, NIL rights, convincing a kid from the deep south to leave for a program and conference in decline, California associated with increased crime and other problems, but those to me are relatively minor compared to the benefit of a Stanford degree. Only personal health I believe is more important than anything else...and many parents around the country do not feel comfortable giving their kids THIS vaccine.  My guess is, of the 50 or 60 recruits that meet Stanford's athletic and academic requirements every year, at least 10-15 will now choose not to attend Stanford anymore because of the vaccine policy. This is not the sentiment around Palo Alto, but it is more varied outside our Silicon Valley bubble ("I don't know anyone who voted for Trump"). The in-class mask policy doesn't help either, but there are ways around that - taking online only classes or classes taught by Hoover fellows who are against the mask or will set-up their classes outdoors.

Finally, I have no ulterior motive.  Just a person who cared deeply about Stanford athletics, especially football, since the late 70s...but completely turned off by the Covid policies of the past 2+ years to the point that I lost interest. More disappointed by my fellow Card fans who seemed fine presenting their papers, donning a mask, and canceling the 2020 season.