American Campus Communities (ACC) Inc., which represents Currie Hall at the University of Southern California, does not plan to accommodate students and their leases amid the current COVID-19 crisis for the 2020-2021 school year. Despite students not being given keys, assigned rooms, nor moving in, those who are seeking to cancel their leases are forced to find a tenet to take over said lease and re-let their space. Failure to find a tenant will result in the student having to pay for the space at Currie Hall, despite not staying there.  
 
Although ACC is not helping Currie Hall tenants in canceling their leases, they did allow students at other universities to be released from their contracts to prevent the spread of the virus. ACC, which represents Plaza Verde, Camino Del Sol, Puerta Del Sol, Vista del Campo, and Vista del Campo Norte at the University of California Irvine, has allowed students at UC Irvine to cancel their leases early with only a $250 fee.
 
Given the COVID-19 crisis and Los Angeles being a major hotspot for coronavirus, living within Currie Hall has become an unrealistic, unsafe option for many students due to the number of people residing and moving in common areas, a lack of a controlled environment, and a subsequent inability to adequately socially distance. According to the New York Times, Los Angeles county accounts for 105,507 of California’s constantly inclining 238,395 COVID-19 cases (updated July 1). Due to a sudden surge in cases, on July 1, Governor Gavin Newsom ordered further restrictions on indoor activities and gatherings, effectively halting the reopening process. In Los Angeles specifically, multiple indoor activities and businesses will be closed, again, because the resurgence. As the threat grows, hospitals are reporting near or at capacity bed occupancy in many areas. In response to the previous and on-going restrictions, learning on USC’s Health Science campus, where Currie Hall is located, will be mostly remote or online. The state and local authorities have clearly highlighted the hazardous nature of close contact and have taken action to protect the public. We ask that American Campus Communities Inc do the same.
 
With this petition, we ask that American Campus Communities Inc. at Currie Hall USC allow students to be released from their contracts with the same offer extended to those at UCI. The status of both the Fall and Spring semesters are still unknown due to COVID-19. With things considered, it would be unfair and irresponsible to mandate that students stay within their contracts and risk further exposure to COVID-19, with the possibility of jeopardizing their lives. We ask that students be released from their contracts with Currie Hall, just as others have been released, without the repercussion of trying to find a tenant to re-let.
 
Thank you for your time, support, and consideration.