The average immune system is barely functional at age 88, along with everything else. If an octogenarian isn't ready to check out, buy a space suit and bubble wrap everything.
Posted on 08/31/2021 10:54:18 PM PDT by Oshkalaboomboom
A University of Georgia retiree-rehire professor resigned on Tuesday after one of his students refused to properly wear a mask in an upper division psychology seminar class held at the psychology building.
During Irwin Bernstein’s second class of the semester, the student, who was not present on the first day of class, arrived at the 25-person class unmasked and was asked by Bernstein to retrieve one from the advising office. The student was given a spare disposable mask from a peer but did not wear it over her nose.
Bernstein asked the student to pull her mask up to wear it correctly, but she said she “couldn’t breathe” and “had a really hard time breathing” with the cloth over her mouth and nose.
Written on the board at the front of the classroom was, “No mask, no class,” according to fourth-year psychology major Hannah Huff.
The 88-year-old psychology professor explained to the student that he could die from COVID-19 due to underlying health conditions such as Type 2 diabetes, hypertension and age-related problems, Bernstein said in an email to The Red & Black.
Only about 15 minutes into the Tuesday lecture, which consisted of Bernstein taking the student attendance, he asked the student to pull her mask up again, but this time, the student did not respond.
Bernstein, who was already informed that two of his absent students tested positive for COVID-19, then announced his resignation on the spot and left the class immediately.
“At that point I said that whereas I had risked my life to defend my country while in the Air Force, I was not willing to risk my life to teach a class with an unmasked student during this Pandemic,” Bernstein said in an email to The Red & Black. “I then resigned my retiree-rehire position.”
Huff said she sat at the front of the class on Tuesday in shock, anger and silence for a few minutes, like the rest of her peers, as she tried to comprehend what happened.
“Professor Bernstein said, ‘That's it. I’m retired,’ and we watched him pack all of his papers into his bag and walk out of the classroom,” Huff said.
“Resignation was an all or none decision ... I felt some relief as I had been getting more concerned as the COVID-19 pandemic unfolded in recent weeks,” Bernstein said.
Some students began logging onto Athena to find last-minute seats in other seminars. Others stared at the student and asked, “You know we need this class to graduate, right?” In response, the student said, “Well, this is a blessing in disguise,” according to Huff.
Huff, who is expected to graduate in December, said she has now been moved to another upper division psychology seminar at 8 a.m., opposed to the original 9:30 a.m. class time.
“The damage is done. Obviously she has her values, and they’re clearly not going to change even when someone asked you to do something that will make them feel comfortable,” Huff said. “Bernstein is there for you [the student]. Like, he came out of retirement to do something for us, but you just can’t take it out of the kindness of your heart to put a piece of fabric on properly.”
The seminar, primarily filled with upperclassmen, is a requirement to graduate for all psychology majors. All students affected by the resignation of the instructor were moved to a new section of their courses, according to UGA spokesperson Greg Trevor.
Immediately after the class abruptly ended, Huff called her mother in panic worried that she wouldn’t be able to graduate.
“This is not what I signed up for. This was not my original plan for my final semester here. It’s heartbreaking. It’s surreal,” Huff said. “I kept thinking to myself, ‘There’s no way this is happening.’ There was definitely hidden hostility in that room, and I do feel a little bit of anger toward this girl, but mainly agitation.”
Bernstein began teaching part-time at UGA in 1968 and became a full-time faculty member in 1971 while he continued research at Emory University’s Yerkes Primate Center until 1993.
Although he retired from UGA in 2011, he still taught as a part time retiree-rehire for many years and was asked by his former psychology department to return this year to teach two courses this semester. Now, Bernstein will not teach either.
On Aug. 18, the first day of in-person classes, Bernstein told his students that he would teach under a “no mask, no class” policy.
Unmasked students who arrived on the first day of the seminar were directed by Bernstein to retrieve one from the front office and the Advising Office. Every student was masked during the remainder of the class time, Bernstein said in his email to The Red & Black.
Bernstein wrote in an email to The Red & Black that the head of the psychology department said he could not enforce a mask policy upon his students. UGA follows the policies of the University System of Georgia, which only encourages masks inside campus facilities and does not allow its institutions to enact mask or vaccine mandates.
The now-resigned professor said USG is in compliance with the policies of the state of Georgia which “forbids us from requiring masks.”
“I am sorry that the pandemic has caused so much dissension. I personally do not agree that stimulating the economy is more important than people’s lives and am disappointed that some people feel that it is,” Bernstein said.
I see your point.
I think he must have been torn between his desire to teach (could have quit a long time ago), and the realization that catching Covid would very possibly, or likely, be a death sentence for him at age 88.
The mask really wouldn’t have made any difference except in his own mind. Maybe he could’ve had her sit in the back row, but just decided to bail on the whole situation.
This maskhole professor clearly seeking to enforce his personal health nazi mandate contrary to UGA policy now seeks to virtue signal and gain kudos for his petty tyrant stance.
His claim of “risking my life to defend my country” while in the Air Force some 40 years ago, not a particularly life risking period in the AF, is risible. He was most likely just in the Air Force.
If this is his response to a student not wearing what we all know is a useless barrier to the China virus, it is likely that if faced with any real danger back in the day he probably would have deserted.
If “he could die from COVID-19 due to underlying health condition such as Type 2 diabetes, hypertension and age-related problems” perhaps he should not be out in public, certainly not in a people concentrated classroom.
As for pinhead Hannah Huff, notice where her anger is focused.
Did she not realize that the “no mask, no class” message on the blackboard was not UGA policy but rather an attempt to intimidate obedience?, more likely she doesn’t care.
If her understanding of the meaning of life is that one needs to accommodate
anyone in order to make them “feel more comfortable” no matter how unreasonable or intolerant the request, she certainly has no business graduating with a degree in psychology or probably anything else.
Was he vaccinated? Do the vaccines work?
correction: over 60 years ago,
and if ‘55-’57 he would have only been a 2nd Lt, certainly not a regular or test pilot, and barely “risking my life to defend my country”.
I did 4.5 years of sea duty in the Navy. One day we had a collision with another ship when we were 300 miles from the nearest land, which happened to be hostile. Even on a normal day with no collisions If something happened to the ship or if I fell overboard I wasn't a strong enough swimmer to last 10 miles, much less hundreds. Still, if someone asks me if I was ever in the service I never say that I risked my life in the Navy. The average 7-11 cashier is probably more at risk than I ever was.
“At 88, this guy will pass from something other than T2 given he’s survived this long under the threatening shadow of diabetes.”
The flu could take me out just as easily, and I’m not going to live my last months or years cowering in terror of a virus.
So, the ‘rona wants to take me out? Well, get in line behind the other health problems that are jostling for that honor.
The average immune system is barely functional at age 88, along with everything else. If an octogenarian isn't ready to check out, buy a space suit and bubble wrap everything.
Works both ways. People should be able to choose what they wish to do and accept whatever consequences may arise. Professor weighed his risks...not worth it for him. Student weighed her risks and putting on mask was not worth it for her. Professor didn’t need the job. Goodbyesville. Students needed seminar. Goodbyesville. Now, neither side can blame the other for their own life’s trajectory.
They were probably happy to get rid of him. I doubt that he was much of a teacher,not only because of his age, but because he’d probably been teaching from the same old yellowed notes for decades and was out of it.
Notice his subject. The true wackjobs always seem to go into psychology.
Agreed but this is also a good result. Instead of hurting the student, the scared, leftist prof quit.
That is the way it should have been all along. The scared leftists shoulD have quarantined leaving the rest of us to go about our lives.
Our educators are unknowing. I thought they were Marxists, but they’re showing themselves to be rather ignorant Marxists.
Total active duty for 2 years as an officer? That does not make sense. Especially in the Air Force. 2 years enlisted in the Army makes sense for a draftee, any other branch would have been requiring 3 or 4 years active duty for enlisted, probably 6 minimum for a commission.
The lecture halls at UGA tend to be pretty large, especially for a required class like this one. I’ll bet she was a good distance from the professor.
An 88-year-old professor is old enough to remember Nazism and has no excuse for trying to relive it by forcing face diapers on others.
The magical belief that masks prevent transmission has been debunked over and over. If the old coot was so concerned about being out in public, he should have self quarantined.
I work in Athens Clarke county and there are electronic signs all over the place that a mask is required. It is no secret. As I was along the campus on my lunch hour, there are very few people that adhere to this rule, for which I am grateful.
As a psychology professor in a University system that doesn’t mandate masks did he not realize that someone at some point would challenge him, if for no other reason than to mess with his “No mask no class” declaration on the blackboard? It’s almost as if he wanted to go out in a way that would bring him some attention before he left.
Sounds like a win. Good job random student.
This might be a good way to get more WOKE libs out of the teaching business.
With an unintended lesson in the manifestation of mass psychosis.
Just more proof that a college education and a professorship does not necessarily mean that you are smart or have common sense.
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