U must lead, not lag, on vaccine campaign A school that strives to lead on science, public health and community engagement should not be watching from the sidelines as we try to end the worst pandemic in 100 years. By Dimitri Drekonja, Nathan Chomilo and Michael Aylward June 16, 2021 — 5:15pm Text size Copy shortlink: In an e-mail to the University of Minnesota community sent on June 14, President Joan Gabel announced that the U will not require students, faculty and staff to be vaccinated against COVID-19 prior to the start of the fall semester. As members of the U community, we are disappointed by this decision.