The editor-in-chief of one of the world's premier lines of science journals this week stepped out from behind the desk to call for colleges and universities to require coronavirus vaccines — and to call out Arizona State University by name.

In an editorial, H. Holden Thorp, editor-in-chief of Science journals, says colleges that don't require vaccines — or are barred by lawmakers from doing so — could face another outbreak.

What's more, with a powerful cold and flu season expected, colleges that don't require coronavirus tests won't know if students are sick with COVID-19, the flu or both.

That could prompt needless closures or restrictions.

Mariana Dale/KJZZ

The Arizona State University campus as seen from the Life Sciences E building in Tempe.

Thorp cited ASU as an example of a school whose plan to require masks and regular testing for unvaccinated students was scuttled by a governor's executive order. He quoted Gov. Ducey's Executive Order 2021-15 of June 15, which says ASU and other public colleges in Arizona cannot "place any conditions on attendance or participation in classes or academic activities, including but not limited to mandatory testing and mandatory mask usage."

"ASU has about 75,000 students on campus. What could go wrong?" he said.

He said politicians and politically appointed trustees were "overreaching their appropriate roles in higher education policy." 

→ Ducey: State No Longer Requiring Mask Wearing In Arizona Schools