An 88-year-old college professor at the University of Georgia announced during a lecture that he was retiring on the spot because a student would not properly wear a mask during his class, Business Insider reports.
Irwin Bernstein, a psychology professor, had told the class that masks were mandatory in his classes because he had an underlying health condition that made him susceptible to infection. “No mask. No class,” read a message he put up before the class, which had two students absent on the first day because they had tested positive for coronavirus.
When a student refused to wear a mask properly by covering her nose, claiming it made it difficult for her to breathe, Bernstein announced August 18th, “That’s it. I’m retired,” and he packed up his papers and left the classroom.
“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, who taught psychology, told the student newspaper.
The University of Georgia does not require students to wear masks in classes or other indoor settings. “Resignation was an all or none decision,” Bernstein said. “I felt some relief as I had been getting more concerned as the COVID-19 pandemic unfolded in recent weeks.”