Even before students, faculty, and staff return to Georgia Tech’s campus for the fall semester, they’re going to start seeing it everywhere: #JacketsProtectJackets.

On social media, in videos, and on all kinds of physical and digital signs on campus, the simple phrase has a simple goal: to reinforce that all Yellow Jackets have an important role to play in protecting each other’s health.

“We've created the slogan Jackets Protect Jackets to remind everyone that the only way we're going to be able to get through this pandemic is by working together,” said Grace Swift, a second-year economics and international affairs major who’s helped with the campaign and also is vice president of communications for the undergraduate Student Government Association.

The safety campaign promotes the proper use of personal protective equipment like face coverings as well as other measures, including social distancing and frequent hand-washing. Leading up to the fall semester, it will include training for every member of the Tech community and will ask students, faculty, and staff to sign a pledge committing to actions that help prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

The campaign kicked off July 17 with the launch of an innovative testing regimen for all of Georgia Tech. Using a unique pooled approach — and eschewing the uncomfortable nasal swab for a saliva test — the Molecular Evolution Core Lab, led by Greg Gibson, aims to offer regular testing for individuals with no symptoms to help assess how much the virus is spreading on campus. <<<LINK TO JOHN’S STORY>>>

“This campaign is essential in keeping our community safe,” said PJ Jarquin, another member of the planning group and a biomedical engineering Ph.D. student. He’s also vice president of campus services for the graduate Student Government Association. “We need this to be a success to keep not only the Georgia Tech community safe, but also the greater Atlanta area. It is our responsibility to do our part.”

In the fall, the Jackets Protect Jackets planning group will deploy student ambassadors to promote the safety message and collect personal stories for social media from members of the Tech community. Work also is underway on a Georgia Tech-specific app to help with contact tracing and provide comprehensive safety information to stem transmission of the virus.

“We are all part of the Yellow Jacket community and have a vested interest in protecting our friends, professors, and staff from harm,” said Logan Dorrill, a third-year civil engineering major who also has helped plan the campaign. “Our desire to stay in an in-person format is shared and can be communicated by respecting each other with actions like social distancing and wearing a face covering.”

The campaign’s goal is no less than 100% participation across campus.

“I just want students to care — care about their professors, care about dining hall workers, care about the faculty and staff and higher-risk students who will be on campus with us,” Swift said. “You never know who around you could be immunocompromised, so please, protect your fellow Jackets and take this seriously. Lives depend on it.”