Renegade Rip Issue 1 Fall 2021 Sept. 8, 2021

Page 3
News
The Renegade Rip www.therip.com
Wednesday, Sept. 8, 2021
Campus Pass app challenges
Erami Dominguez
Reporter
The Kern Community
College District Board of
Trustees unanimously passed
vaccine mandates for all students,
faculty, and staff returning
to campus on Aug.
12
Ṫhe education system took
on a much different shape
after the initial Coronavirus
outbreak. Students and educators
had the task of transitioning
to completely online
learning, and as life on campus
resumes, the tech-forward
solutions are here to
stay.
New health and safety protocols
are being enforced so
that everyone at BC is safe,
especially considering the
recent development of the
COVID-19 delta variant.
All parties are directed to
download the KCCD app to
complete daily health checks,
and to confirm their vaccination
status with the BC
COVID-19 response team to
mitigate the spread.
Some students have had
difficulties downloading or
using the app.
Paper or non-app health
screening options were addressed
in an email from
Dean of Instruction, Rebecca
Farley, to department
staff:
“There are no paper forms.
They can come to student life
and complete the form (online)
and we give them one (a
printout of the digital health
tracker verification pass).”
Anyone having trouble
with the app can get help at
the Office of Student Life.
Other than accessibility,
it seems the only issue with
the Campus Pass app is
awareness of the app’s features
or purpose. It is possible
to overlook new protocol
in the flurry of purchasing
textbooks and locating classrooms.
One anonymous user
expressed confusion about
the QR code contact tracing
system.
“I had no clue why there
were bar codes everywhere,
but once one of my professors
explained it to us, I
caught up pretty quickly and
now it’s just a natural part
about being on campus in
my mind.”
Information about using
the KCCD app can be found
on the homepage of the BC
website in the “About BC”
section under “COVID-19
Information.” Scroll down
to see red labeled sections,
expand the “Fall 2021 Protocols”
tab, and click the red
“KCCD Campus Pass app”
hyperlink for detailed instructions.
Zachary Finch, a third-year
BC studio arts major, stated
the ease of use of the app,
his only negative being that
the contact tracing feature
is “a little anxiety inducing,”
but he feels safe knowing that
he is vaccinated.
“The more people we get
using the app regularly, the
better communication, the
more trust we will have in
each other to return back to
school with the main goal of
pursuing an education.”
Alejo summed it up perfectly;
trust and communication
are essential. Familiarize
with the app and remember
to scan QR codes before entering
all buildings.
BC offers Vaccination Clinics
By Breonna Zapiain
Reporter
A vaccine requirement has
been mandated for all Kern
County Community College
campuses, “BC students and
employees will be required to
provide proof of first vaccination
by Sept. 7 and proof
of full vaccination by Nov.
1,” according to information
found on the Bakersfield
College website.
Those who do not wish to
be vaccinated are encouraged
to visit the Student Information
Desk on the BC
website to get information
on alternate options that are
available for them.
In an effort to make
COVID-19 vaccines more
accessible, BC is providing
free vaccinations for people
18 or older at the Student
Health and Wellness Center
Mondays through Thursdays
from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
BC Student Health and
Wellness Center will also be
offering the Moderna vaccine
Tuesdays and Sundays
in August and September
from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. for
walk-ins only. Students will
also be provided with the opportunity
to get the Moderna
vaccine Saturdays at BC
home football games. They
will be offered at the Memorial
Stadium located at the
BC main campus from 5:30
p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Just between Aug. 30 and
Aug. 31, the BC Vaccine
Clinic vaccinated 54 people.
Charles Collom, Director
of the Student Health and
Wellness Center, shared that
there are a few commonly
asked questions from those
getting vaccines.
“Occasionally I’ll get questions
like ‘How does it work,’
I love that question because
it makes me get to sound
smart,” he said. Collom also
shared that there are times
where the clinics get very
busy, often between block
schedules for classes when
students get out of class, and
other times where they are
not busy at all.
The Student Health and
Wellness Center is located
on BC’s main campus in
the Levison Center marked
“LEV” on the college’s map.
It is next to the M & O building
and south of the library.
Walk-ins will be accepted at
all clinics but those looking
to schedule an appointment
can call 833- 422-4255 or
register for appointments at
myturn.ca.gov. Information
available on the BC website
states that anyone looking for
more information or has any
questions is encouraged to
call 661-395-4336.