Are We Cleared?
Words by Annisha Singh
Images by Micaela Lue and Bruce Gregg
Everyone is welcome on the City College Campus. All are invited to walk past the ginkgo tree, the green fields, and the castle-like historic buildings. However, students are having difficulty accessing these buildings. Since classes resumed in person, all CUNY campuses have enforced a new program called Cleared4, a website that grants students and faculty permission into CUNY Campuses. Many are on the fence about the effectiveness and efficiency of Cleared4 at City College.
To set up a Cleared4 account a student must upload their proof of vaccination to the CUNY First website, which is then cleared by their school. They receive a personal access link which states their name, the date, a QR code, and the phrase “Cleared for CUNY Access,” when they’re approved. Everyone has their own personalized link that must be refreshed and shown to security as they enter the building each day.
With this access pass CUNY staff and students can enter any CUNY campus or building. If a student or administrator happens to test positive for COVID-19 and notifies the school, the pass will lock, and they will be denied access until they upload proof of a negative COVID-19 test.
The North Academic Center is one of the busiest buildings on the campus, home to Cohen Library. Throughout the day, the five floors of Cohen Library are busy with students. Students not only have to show their IDs to get into the North Academic Center, but also for admittance to the library.
Student William Quinonez said, “The precaution the school takes is a good thing, it allows us to be here in person.” However, he has had his fair share of Cleared4 mishaps. One dates back to this summer. “I didn’t have it [the Cleared4 link] on my phone, I was new to the procedure and it was only on my laptop.” He continued “I would have to take out my laptop, or I would take a picture of the link on my computer with my phone.”
Bruce, a sophomore at City College said, “I missed a class one time, this was when they first rolled it [Cleared4] out.” Although vaccinated, Bruce did not shy away from expressing his opinion, “I don’t like it.” When asked about Cleared4 being used to enter the library Bruce responded “It doesn’t make sense.”
Some CUNY campuses use Cleared4 as an alternative ID when students forget to bring their school IDs. Students at Queens College swipe their IDs through a machine, which is linked to their CUNY First account. Queens College student Andrew Kanhai said, “I think Cleared4 is super useful for students that leave their IDs at home and or don’t have IDs as of yet.”
Hunter college has a similar approach. Student Aliyah Ghany said, “Your COVID-19 information uploaded to the CUNY Website will link to your ID and when you tap it then you’ll be able to enter the building. If it beeps, then that means you’re not cleared and cannot enter.”
While students are not opposed to the use of Cleared4, they have some suggestions on how its use can be improved. Bruce mentioned the idea of a weekly Cleared4. Instead of having to show the pass every day, it could say, “Cleared for the Week.” If the user contracts COVID, then it would lock as it does now.
Another City College student Rebeca Varela said, “I would make the pass necessary for entrances [to campus buildings] only.”
Random COVID-19 testing is administered, for which staff and students must show up and get tested, or have their Cleared4 access revoked. “It can add on an extra responsibility to students,” Quinonez said.
Many students look forward to the day they don’t have to use Cleared4 anymore, and they can enter campus buildings with ease. However, Cleared4 will not be gone anytime soon, so don’t forget to have links loaded and IDs out when you step through a City College door.
