NORTHWEST
MISSOURIAN
THURSDAY, AUGUST 19, 2021
MARYVILLE, MISSOURI
NWMISSOURINEWS.COM
VOL. 110, NO. 1
@THEMISSOURIAN
Masks here to stay, for now
New strain prompts mandate to return SIDNEY LOWRY News Editor | @sidney_lowry
W
ith students pooling back to campus, Northwest has outlined their new COVID-19 mitigation and safety procedures, including requiring masks regardless of vaccination status and getting rid of Zoom as a required online option. After spending the whole summer not requiring masks for vaccinated individuals, this fall students, faculty and anyone on campus will be required to wear a face covering regardless of vaccination status. Lt. Amanda Cullin, who works with Northwest’s Emergency Management Team, said every procedure put into place goes by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines which had recently changed their own mask mandate despite vaccination status. Cullin said the mask mandate and COVID-19 policies are changing on campus because of the impact COVID-19 is having again due to the delta variant. Missouri was taken by storm with the delta variant; in midJune 30% of Missouri COVID-19 cases were linked to the delta variant, according to TIME Magazine. Other states were showing up at less than 5%. Cullin said Nodaway County was significantly impacted, bringing on the reintroduction of the mask mandate on campus. “Now due to the delta variant and the vaccination rate, they (CDC) came back and said if you are in an area that is significantly impacted by the delta variant, we suggest that you wear face covering indoors,” Cullin said.
ADDALYNN BRADBURY | NW MISSOURIAN
During Freshman Convocation on Aug. 17, President John Jasinski walks through the crowd of cheering students to start off the event. Convocation initiates the start of the year for new students as they celebrate becoming Northwest Bearcats.
Though face coverings are required on campus buildings and facilities, they may be removed in dining halls or indoor areas where six feet of distance can be obtained. Northwest also outlined in their mitigation policies that face coverings will be required at all times in all classrooms
and labs. The Wellness Center, Horace Mann Laboratory School, Phyllis and Richard Leet Center for Children and Families and Safe Ride vehicles require face coverings regardless if social distancing can be obtained. Cullin said the mask mandate put into place Aug. 13 is temporary
and will be reevaluated frequently. “We have a holistic process so we are looking at data that directly impacts us,” Cullin said. Not only is the University looking at campus data, they are using county and state information to reevaluate policies.
SEE POLICY | A4
Retired tech instructor dies at 68 Roger Lee Van Holzen, 68, of Maryville, Missouri, died Monday, Aug. 9 at Mosaic Medical Center - Maryville. Van Holzen was a key player in several technology initiatives at Northwest, which led to his appointment to the director of the campus faculty technology center in 1999. He stayed on with the University for 20 additional years and retired in summer 2020. Before his time at Northwest, Van Holzen attended Sacred Heart Catholic School in Marshfield, Wisconsin. He graduated from Columbus High School in 1971, where he still holds a running record to this day. Van Holzen went on to graduate from the University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point, then taught high school history and computer science for 10 years. Colleagues of Van Holzen recount his drive to constantly learn new things and be up-todate ontechnology in a changing world. He even earned a horticulture degree from Gateway Tech in Kenosha, Wisconsin. He earned his master’s degree in computer studies from Northwest in 1987 and began teaching at the University in the computer science program. He received his doctorate in instructional technology from Texas Tech University in 1993. Van Holzen met Michael Segura June 1, 1991 and they married December 25, 2016. Segura survives the home. Other survivors include stepmother Dorothy Marshield, Scott (Barb) Eau Claire, Jeff (Kris) Ashland, one niece, Kinsey (Steven) Ashland, step-brother Mark (Julie) Stangl, Andrew Huerta, Victor (Velma) Valdez, David Desecottier, Jonathan (Kelly) Huerta and Michael Andrew. Funeral services were held Aug. 12, but memorials can still be made in Roger’s name to Bernie and Katie Myers at 31130 250th St., Maryville, MO 64468 to establish a memorial at Mosaic - Maryville.
Nodaway County lags behind in vaccine rates NATHAN ENGLISH Managing Editor | @nathan_3nglish
An estimated 42% of Nodaway County residents as of August 14, including those not yet eligible to receive the vaccine, have completed their COVID-19 vaccinations, according to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. Nodaway County Health Administrator Tom Patterson said he, like many other health officials, would like to see that number higher. Nate Blackford, president of Mosaic Medical Center Maryville, said Northwest faculty, staff and students have higher vaccination rates than the surrounding population. Around 330 vaccines were distributed in Nodaway County last week. Three weeks pri-
IN THE NEWS
or, the number was hovering around 170 vaccines distributed. Patterson said people seem to be gearing up for the school year by getting vaccinated. Missouri is firmly in the bottom half of the country in terms of vaccination rates with a little over 43% of the Show-Me State’s population being fully vaccinated for COVID-19, according to John Hopkins University. Both Patterson and Blackford said vaccines are the best defense and mitigation strategy against COVID-19 and the contagious delta variant. Blackford and others were hoping for a quieter summer after the pandemic peak that swept through the country in the winter months.
42%
50.3%
of Nodaway County’s total population that has been vaccinated
of Missouri’s total population that has been vaccinated
SEE COUNTY | A4
A2 Greek Life recruitment
Greek Life organizations kick off recruitment, try and connect with potential members, with series of events on-campus.
IN THE NEWS
COVID-19 VACCINES BY THE NUMBERS
A3 Remebering Ezra Mohn
Family hopes to honor the legacy of former graphic design student after his sudden passing from diabetes-related complications at 19.
51.4% of the U.S. total population that has been vaccinated
SOURCE: OUR WORLD IN DATA & MISSOURI DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND SENIOR SERVICES MAKAYLA POLAK | NW MISSOURIAN
OUR VIEW
A5
Students are back and so is the mask mandate. Why everyone needs to do their part and maybe this mandate will only be temporary.
IN SPORTS The Spoofhounds look to build on last season’s state title game appearance as new season is close to kicking off. A7 MHS Football
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