Chancellor Mark Mone led the 70 for 70 campaign event alongside Covid-19 peer ambassadors and faculty from the Norris Health Center Health Promotion and Wellness Team on Oct. 14 to celebrate the vaccination levels of students on campus.
UWM is participating in the UW System’s incentive program, where vaccinated students who are enrolled will be eligible for a $7,000 scholarship once their campus reaches a 70% vaccination rate. As of Oct. 20, 89% of students and 81% of faculty have been vaccinated, according to UWM’s Covid-19 dashboard.
“UWM actually hit that [70%] a long time ago,” said Covid-19 Support Coordinator MacKenzie Ringle. “We’re celebrating the fact that we hit 70%, which is the first benchmark to unlock scholarships for UWM students.”
“I am so thrilled,” Ringle said. “I’m so proud of students for one, getting vaccinated, and two, reporting it to the school. It helps us know that we can be together safely.”
Mone rode in a highly decorated ATV around campus. The ATV had balloons tied around the edges with “70” on them, as well as large “7” and “0” celebration balloons tied to the front. He wore a long, ’70s-inspired wig with a bandana and a bright yellow shirt. Mone frequently held his hands in a peace sign to symbolize the time period.
He shouted out words of encouragement and other celebratory remarks to passersby in celebration.
Mone also approached a class that was gathering outside of the Kenwood Interdisciplinary Research Complex.
“You students helped us get in the 70s,” Mone said. “We are at 89% student vaccination right now, so we are celebrating. Sorry to disrupt your class. The most important thing is learning, but today we are celebrating.”
The volunteers of the event approached students to give free UWM swag and ’70s-themed candy in support of their efforts towards vaccination rates. UWM’s mascot, Pounce was there to interact and take photos with students.
Elizabeth Julius, 21, is a UWM Covid-19 peer ambassador.
“I think it’s really good that UWM is taking getting the vaccination seriously,” Julius said. “I honestly wasn’t expecting the percentage to be this high. It’s good to know that the student body is taking it seriously. I think this is a fun way to celebrate that.”
Julius is heavily involved on campus as a peer mentor and has experience as an orientation leader. She believes that it is important that everyone feels safe and welcome on campus.
“I think this is a really important part of people feeling safe on campus,” Julius said. “Being able to be normal, in-person students again without having to worry about outbreaks or hospitalizing some of our more immunocompromised student population is important. It is important that everyone feels included and everyone feels welcome on campus.”
UWM Student Alexis Carr, 20, thinks that it is important that the conversation of vaccination and weekly testing for unvaccinated students on the UWM Campus is still happening.
“It makes for a safer environment on campus,” Carr said. “This event opens up the conversation for vaccination. If we’re celebrating about it, then more people know about it.”
For more information about vaccination clinics and resources at UWM, visit the COVID-19 Dashboard.