We the students of the State University of New York at Purchase understand the effective measures of moving the college to a distance learning model via the internet in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

However, distance learning on the internet has raised issues that need to be brought to the college's attention. Students in art conservatories (IE: Music, Dance, School of Visual Arts and the Conservatory of Theater Arts) are in a tough situation. They are in majors that require them to be physically present for their projects and performances, and it will be difficult for them to grow as artists if they are limited by distance learning. Furthermore, students might also have focusing issues in which they can easily get distracted by being on a computer screen instead of learning in a physical classroom. In addition, not everyone has regular access to the internet, which can take a toll on the amount of online sessions they can dedicate themselves to. However, perhaps the biggest issue with online learning is that it goes against everything students have paid for. We have paid to get a meaningful education in a physical classroom instead of an online education. What is the point of paying a lot for what should be an enlightening education if we are going to simply be on a computer screen for the rest of the semester? These issues grately effect the distance learning experience.

That is why some students of the State University of New York at Purchase are arguing for an end to the Spring 2020 semester. We should be entitled to receive full academic credit with the classes we are taking, and with what we have already completed. Giving us full academic credit this semester also means that the school would not have to redo the semester, as it would delay a lot of people's graduation dates. 

Education means a lot to people. This is an extraordinary request, but these are extraordinary times we live in. The students of Purchase College hope the state will consider will consider this request.