Since the global pandemic crisis of COVID-19, the United States government has continuously enacted a multitude of extreme policies. These policies impede the rights of American citizens, even as medical tyranny runs unchecked through the halls of Congress, and in turn, around the nation.
This brings to mind the phrase, coined in 1855 by Henry Bohn, that “The road to hell is paved with good intentions.” Simply put, the “public health” justification for interfering with the sacred rights described within the United States Constitution to curtail the pandemic often seems beneficial, whilst in truth, the exact opposite is the case.
But what does this “justified” medical tyranny have to do with you?
Specifically for college students, the student body of Virginia Tech, a public research university in Blacksburg, Virginia, is fighting for their right to reject mandatory Covid-19 vaccination in exchange for an education. Currently, several conservative and Republican student organizations are circulating a petition with the purpose of halting the liberal Virginia Tech administration from enforcing mandatory vaccination for COVID-19.
According to the Frequently Asked Questions page on the Virginia Tech website, “Students must submit proof of COVID-19 vaccination by August 9th through the Online Student Health Portal.” Several colleges across the nation, including Lone Star State, have introduced mandatory vaccination policies through their respective health service entities. In Texas, four colleges: Paul Quinn College in Dallas; Rice University in Houston; Seminary of the Southwest in Austin; and St. Edward’s College in Austin; currently require that students are vaccinated against COVID-19. Currently, only ten states have no colleges that require the COVID-19 vaccination. Some of the largest college systems in America, like the University of California and State University of New York systems, require all their campuses to have a vaccinated student body.
While the slippery slope argument is technically a logical fallacy, I argue such a slippery slope exists between this infringement of American rights and further medical tyranny. If masks save lives, we ought to obey any imposed regulation born out of a righteous cause such as saving lives…right?
When the government, or Dr. Anthony Fauci, who is facing a firefight to disprove his involvement in the COVID-19 research in China, asks you to wear two masks instead of one…people acquiesce without question. Next time, I implore you to consider, if two masks will prevent the disease, why did the government not recommend such action at the outset of the pandemic? The officials in Washington already asked Americans to mask against their will, but now two masks will fix the problem? A common analogy made by Dr. Simone Gold equates COVID-19 to a mosquito, and the mask to a chain-link fence — a mosquito will fly through such a barrier.
To comment on the situation at Virginia Tech, one of the first places to institute the new health policy mandate for COVID-19 vaccinations, Turning Point USA at Virginia Tech (TPUSAVT) President, Alyssa Jones, sat down for an interview with me about the situation, plan, and ramifications of the new health ordinance. Our conversation was as follows:
Carter: Thank you, Alyssa, for joining me in a quick interview for The Texas Horn at The University of Texas at Austin. For the two-part first question, what steps are you taking to lead the initiative to petition the administration at Virginia Tech against a mandated COVID-19 vaccination for students? Can you give any information on how the signature collection is progressing?
Alyssa: Young Americans for Liberty at Virginia Tech has created a petition where students, parents, and community members can pledge their support for the removal of the vaccine mandate at Virginia Tech. We currently have more than 665 signatures. We are sending these signatures to the President of the University, as implementing the vaccine mandate was a decision made by him with the input of others.
Carter: What conservative student groups on campus are involved in the petition, and what external groups are helping to support your cause?
Alyssa: The petition has been endorsed by Turning Point USA at Virginia Tech. Many students in other organizations such as Young Americans for Freedom have also supported the petition.
Carter: What are the ethical implications of halting the Virginia Tech administration from imposing the vaccination mandate?
Alyssa: Young Americans for Liberty believes that it is most ethical to allow students to make the informed decision that they believe is best for them. Young Americans for Liberty believes that receiving any vaccine should be a personal and private decision that students make with their families and their doctors. YAL is not advocating for students to not receive the vaccine if they wish but is merely speaking out against a vaccine that is still in experimental phases being forced on students to receive education from public universities funded by taxpayer dollars.
Carter: What are the ramifications if the petition is unsuccessful in stopping the vaccine mandate?
Alyssa: If our efforts are unsuccessful, the chapter will certainly be disappointed. There has not been as much backlash and what was expected, so embarrassment is not of great concern to us. There is a difference between a bad movement and a losing movement. No matter the outcome, Young Americans for Liberty has built a great movement for freedom on Virginia Tech’s college campus that will be maintained beyond the duration of this issue. VT’s chapter of Young Americans for Liberty is not one to back down from a fight, so we will be prepared to use the momentum that we have created for the next liberty issue on our campus if we are unsuccessful in our great effort this summer.
Carter: As a final question, what can other conservative groups on campuses across the United States do to kickstart an initiative to stop their college administration from imposing the COVID-19 vaccine?
Alyssa: Virginia Tech’s efforts have not yet been proven to be successful in removing the mandate, but it has been successful in growing a movement and maintaining the momentum that has been created. After a month, students and parents are refusing to give up. We are still contacting the university President’s office, collecting contacts, and exploring options. Other universities can be using the same process, and they already are. The President of Turning Point USA at the University of Colorado at Boulder has partnered with Young Americans for Liberty to create her own petition against the vaccine mandate at CU schools. We see the same at the University of Illinois System. Young Americans for Liberty at Virginia Tech is proud to be influencing a national movement with our efforts. Our petition also inspired the president of Turning Point USA at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington to create a petition urging her university to act against professors who use violent, unprotected speech on social media. Other schools can certainly kickstart initiatives. I encourage students to reach out to their chapter representatives for the conservative or libertarian organization that they are a part of so that they can receive guidance and resources.
I want to thank Ms. Alyssa for her time during the interview and for her efforts in leading the fight to prevent medical tyranny at Virginia Tech and other schools.
As demonstrated before, the situation of vaccine mandates for colleges across the United States spreads to almost every state in the union. Students who choose to forego the vaccines will now face the challenge of losing their ability to attend college – all for the sake of internal security and political expediency.
Where does the slope end? How will the impact of imposed vaccination mandates at colleges across the country affect those in pursuit of higher education? These questions remain unanswered, but you can change the tide of the outcome by attending school board meetings, volunteering for vaccine choice organizations, and writing to your legislative representatives.
Like the situation with Critical Race Theory in schools across the United States, communities must oppose the liberal agenda and preserve the values of America while there is still something left to embrace. Marxism works best in the shadows, whilst creating a fissure of division between not just the classes, but the races in America.
Remembering the ninth rule of conservatism by Russell Kirk, “the conservative perceives the need for prudent restraints upon power and upon human passions.” Think about the unintended consequences of groupthink and the dangers of societal coercion by the guise of promising freedom before you follow the government’s narrative.
