ASU’s Policy Discriminates Against Unvaccinated Students & Must Be Rescinded

STATE CAPITOL, PHOENIX – State Representative Travis Grantham (R-12) today issued the following statement regarding a highly-controversial new policy issued by Dr. Joanne Vogel, Vice President of Student Services for Arizona State University (ASU), compelling students who, for any reason, have not received the COVID-19 vaccination to submit to onerous and ongoing discriminatory protocols, including daily health checks, twice-weekly testing, and mandatory face mask use in all indoor and outdoor spaces on ASU campuses. Vaccinated students are not subject to these requirements.

“The new student policy announced by Dr. Vogel is blatantly discriminatory and I find it troubling that ASU would even think to institute it,” said Representative Grantham. “I have received numerous calls from concerned parents whose kids have no other option but to attend a state university. It’s important that this tyrannical policy must not prevent any Arizonan from accessing our state university system. For that reason, I am today calling for the policy’s immediate rescindment. If that does not happen swiftly, Dr. Vogel must resign or be terminated by Arizona State University. Moreover, as the legislature prepares to pass a state budget for next year, I will not support funding for any state university that intends to harass or discriminate against non-vaccinated students on campus.”

Travis Grantham is Speaker Pro Tempore and a Republican member of the Arizona House of Representatives serving Legislative District 12, encompassing Gilbert & Queen Creek, and parts of Pinal County.