STATEHOUSE (May 27, 2021) — Members of the Indiana Senate Republican Caucus today sent a letter to Indiana University President Michael McRobbie urging the University to reconsider and rescind the policy mandating all students and staff receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
In part, the letter states, "We have grave concerns regarding your latest decision to mandate the COVID-19 vaccine for all students, staff, and faculty at all Indiana University campuses—a vaccine that has only an emergency-use authorization, rather than full FDA approval. This heavy-handed mandate goes against many of the liberties on which our founders built our democratic republic. Furthermore, it would force young Americans—statistically the lowest at-risk demographic—into a decision based on economics rather than health and individual responsibility. If they refuse to yield to the university’s vaccine order, students from lower socio-economic backgrounds could lose state and federal aid; some students will lose scholarships; still others could lose deposits because they cannot walk away from binding lease agreements; and employees could find their jobs in jeopardy. Given these realities, it’s no surprise that we have heard from students, parents, faculty, and concerned Hoosier taxpayers (the men and women whose hard-earned money helps fund Indiana University) sharing valid concerns about being coerced into an impossible situation."
To view the full letter, click here.
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For high-resolution photos of Senate Republicans, click here.
