BUCKHANNON, WV (LOOTPRESS) – A young lady with high expectations for her college career is now considering her next step.
According to the (Buckhannon) Delta-Record newspaper’s staff writer Macie Queen, Kilee Boone is a former freshman athlete at West Virginia Wesleyan College.
Because of a dispute regarding mask wearing due to the Covid pandemic, Boone Is now viewed by WVWC as “unfit” to be a student. She has been kicked off campus after multiple boards and committees reportedly denied her medical exemption from wearing a mask.
Boone was accepted by WVWC as a student and soccer playing student athlete this fall.
“While sending in all necessary paperwork and documentation to become a student, her mother reportedly called and spoke with the college about their ‘mask exemption process’ as the college enforced and mandated masks for all students and staff at the beginning of the semester,” the writer explained.
Boone said she has a medically documented condition which prevents her from wearing any type of facial covering. Her Indiana physicians certified her condition and their recommendation against masks for her.
Her mother spoke with John Bohman, who reportedly stated that he is “the head of the committee that handles these things,” and told them it “shouldn’t be an issue whatsoever.”
“Boone then submitted her medical documentation to Bohman, as well as the Student Health Forms department. Two days later, the Student Health Forms department emailed back, reportedly saying they had ‘processed the forms and completed the file.’ Boone and her mother said they did not hear from Bohman or that department again,” according to the paper.
Boone went through the WVWC registration process in person without a mask on August 14, the story said.
“The new student said she made it through the entire check-in process and moved into her dorm without being confronted for not wearing a facial covering. After visiting the library, cafeteria, athletic facilities, classrooms, etc., she told The Record Delta she thought the college had processed her medical exemption, and that she was in the clear,” it continued.
Boone told the writer she was adjusting and settling in when she received an email from Alison Whitehair four days later, reportedly stating that the “committee whose job it was to review requests for medical exemptions from facial covering had denied her request.
“Boone was confused as she had never been asked to submit an additional “request” and was only advised to send in her medical paperwork, after which she was allegedly told she’s ‘good to go,”’ the paper reported.
The confused student submitted her doctor’s statement for medical exemption again, explaining she had already sent the information to Bohman and the Student Health Forms Department. Her exemption was denied again.
She then requested a meeting with Dean James Moore. He agreed to meet but only if all parties wore a mask. As a compromise, Boone suggested they meet virtually or outside. Moore refused.
“According to Boone, Dean Moore delegitimized and discredited her doctors in Michigan, and told her she could make an appointment to be seen by a ‘non-biased’ community care physician on campus. Although Boone was reluctant, she followed through with seeing an on-campus physician,” the story continued.
The student told the newspaper, “The physician I saw there had no interest in considering my medical condition whatsoever, instead shaming me about the importance of wearing a mask.
“The physician reportedly told Boone, ‘If I can wear a mask for 16 hours, so can you.'”
Subsequently, “Boone received an email from Greg Strader in the Office of Student Conduct, explaining that he had received a notice of conduct violation that he would like to discuss with her. He added that the meeting would require masks for all parties. Boone requested a virtual meeting or an outdoor meeting, as she was medically exempt from wearing a facial covering. Both requests were reportedly denied by Strader. Shortly after, she received an email for a ‘Notice of Hearing’ in which Boone would have to meet with a Board of Directors. The same process unfolded again, as they insisted on her wearing a mask to the meeting. Again, Boone requested a virtual meeting or an outdoor meeting, but her requests were once more denied. The college allegedly chose to hold the meetings without Boone present,” the story said.
Eventually, the college gave her 48 hours to pack her things and leave campus. Boone told the paper that the college also refused to refund her tuition money, as well as the money she paid to stay in her dorm.
The college also “allegedly refused to allow Boone to alternatively continue her education online, despite the fact that all classes were provided online less than a year ago, she told the writer.
“Boone said she was told that she was ‘unfit to be on campus’ and could not ‘academically continue at the school,'” according to her account.
Boone told the newspaper, “I have never been a discipline problem my entire life. My parents and I chose WVWC as a college-home that we thought would be a welcoming and Godly place for me to thrive with my teammates and to learn and grow in God and education all at once. I am not the problem. I have done my very best to follow what I have been told. Meanwhile, there are staff and students all over campus with no masks on at all, masks below their chin/nose, etc. I have a well documented medical condition which prevents me from wearing a facial covering. I carry that documentation with me at all times.”
The Record Delta reached out to the college.
They responded, “Thank you for your inquiry.
West Virginia Wesleyan College will not comment on student matters protected by federal law.”
A week after Boone was removed from campus, WVWC lifted their mask mandate in classrooms, allowing students to be unmasked during classes. Boone said she was never contacted or compensated following the revised mask requirement.
“Boone said that she and her family are hopeful that now that the mask mandate has been lifted in WVWC classrooms, she will be given the equal opportunity to return to campus as a student athlete,” the report said. “If Boone is not permitted to return to campus, she told The Record Delta she will be seeking a refund of her tuition, room and board costs.