Due to the outbreaks of Covid-19 across the country, many Mercer students have gone home to do their part and practice social distancing. Despite the majority of students not being on campus, Mercer University has announced no plans to refund the costs of housing or meal plans to those students who have gone home for the extended break, instead describing the costs as forfeited losses. If Mercer students are not on campus, they should not have to pay the full price for the entire semester’s worth of room and board. 

This follows after Mercer University’s reluctance to move classes to an online format, only finally caving after virtually every other college across the nation had cancelled classes and moved to online options. Many of these colleges, including UNT and others, have already released statements on their plans to give refunds for services paid for. Once again, Mercer is behind on these current and urgent issues, indicating their limited care for the health and well-being of the student body. 

By signing this petition, the Mercer student body urges the administration and President Bill Underwood to partially refund the costs of housing and meal plans, equivalent to the time period we are away from school. Many students are paying for college out of their own pockets or have limited funds, and it is unjust and unfair for Mercer University to withhold these funds from its student body.