A Cleveland State student group known as Students for Safe learning protested outside the student center on Jan. 25 for stricter COVID mandates. 

The group feels that the university's current protocols are not enough to protect students, staff, and other members of the Cleveland State community.

"We were very disappointed by how CSU was handling COVID-19," CSU student and protester, Ashley Eging, said. "We came together as students to protest against this and demand safer learning."

In addition to protesting, the group also has launched an online petition that states their demands to protect the community.

Those demands include the option to attend class remotely and to restrict the dining hall to grab-and-go only.

"In the dining hall, I have seen people who have walked around campus wearing masks. When we are getting our food to eat, they are not wearing them," CSU Student Senator, Cael Shaw said.

Other demands in the petition include providing and enforcing N95 masks with weekly testing for all members of the CSU community.

The petition has over 660 signatures as of Jan. 27. Students for Safe learning and the Student Senate plan to deliver the demands to the faculty senate.

"It's essentially the university's fault for not keeping our students safe first," CSU student Victoria Fields said. "That's 640 voices that are being ignored at this moment."

Along with the Students for Safe learning petition, some CSU students are signing another online petition by a student group known as Rational Rona Response. 

The Rational Rona Response petition advocates for less strict COVID policies and has over 230 signatures as of Jan. 27.

Their demands for the university include optional masking, remaining committed to in-person learning, and that the university does not mandate vaccines but instead recognizes and respects natural immunity.

The Cleveland Stater reached out to Rational Rona Response for an interview and to see who was behind the account. However, the group declined an interview.

When asked about the counter-petition by their peers, Students for Safe Learning expressed concern and even felt more unsafe because of it.

"I feel more endangered that people feel like instead of supporting us they need to go against us," Fields said. "There was no counter before we existed, it only existed after."

Students are still able to sign both petitions. The next Faculty Senate meeting is on Feb. 2, where they will hear the demands of Students for Safe Learning and the Student Senate.

Cleveland State’s current protocols include masking and social distancing when able. The university is also running an educational program on the benefits of being vaccinated.

Students, faculty, and staff can get vaccinated at CSU Health and Wellness Services for free. For testing, those who are showing symptoms or are a close contact can be tested for free.