This is not the first petition regarding academics at the university and, as long as students are still struggling, I am sure it will not be the last. As the title reads, I am writing this petition to urge our school to allow us exemptions from all final examinations. 

To say that the COVID-19 Pandemic has had violent, rippling effects on the lives of not only students, but everyone in the world would be a gross understatement. I will admit that I myself have been incredibly fortunate and have faced no serious loss. However, I and many others are familiar with students who have lost their homes, their sources of income, and even their loved ones due to the virus. Some students are also considered essential workers, adding further physical and psychological strain to juggle

It has been said countless times and I will say it again. With all these additional stressors, a student cannot be expected to devote themselves to their academic obligations. Transition to online classes is already a drastic adjustment on its own. Consider the difficulty of adjusting to a new lifestyle. Consider all the variables outside of people’s control. Some students may be living safely in quarantine with their families, while others are trapped in abusive households. Some students have lost members of their family, or even their parents. Some students cannot access online classes. Some students may hardly have access to their next meal. 

Additionally, realise that students are not the only ones who are struggling. Professors are human, too. The assignments we are expected to complete have to be graded by someone. If students are being so affected by these circumstances, I’m sure that the professors are under an equal amount of duress.

For students to receive an exemption from all final exams would relieve a huge source of mental strain. I implore St. Johns’s University to allow this change for the sake of not only students, but faculty and staff.