The hit of the COVID-19 virus in New York was unexpected, and many institutions were unprepared for it. Weeks later, the government is still trying to find ways for us to handle the impact and recover. However, CUNY is making that process difficult on their students, professors and aiding faculty. 

An intermittent recess was taken to help transition to distanced learning. We are only a week in and another recess is being taken for reasons most students do not understand, because 80% of professors have experience using blackboard and are able to conduct instruction through the website through various methods. This recess is confusing to students on a whole. The stress of not knowing what’s going to happen academically, the worry of having to wait for jobs and internships to accommodate to the changes quickly, and concerns about spreading COVID to older or immuno-suppressed family/friends does not need this added weight. Not to forget the cancellation of senior events and the worry that graduation ceremonies will not happen. These changes are happening for the safety of students and faculty, but that consideration does not lessen the pressure. 

It was announced on March 24th that an additional recess will be taken, and that Spring Break will be shortened from 9 days to 3. This is not beneficial. These recesses are not breaks for students, but instead moments of feeling loss and extreme anxiety as we await some sort of guidance. Professors are awaiting answers from their higher-ups and cannot give answers to the students flooding them with emails. Spring Break is a way for students to relax from the stressors that are associated with college and working toward a degree. Spring Break is also beneficial for faculty, as it is a way for them to relax, spend some more hours with their loved ones and prepare for the ending of the semester. For those of us graduating, Spring Break is a time to figure out our next steps. 

The wrongs that CUNY needs to correct: 

• Shortening spring break, which is the only time during the spring for students and faculty alike to relieve stress and reconvene. 
• Moving students from dorm rooms, leaving them to find somewhere else to stay with no regard to their situations or health status during this pandemic. All of these students deserve a refund or some sort of credit transference so they will not be entitled to pay room and board next semester. 
• Reimburse students. There are students who have difficulties learning online, do not have the resources to work online or just did not want an online class to begin with. Additionally, so much time is being taken away. Whether this reimbursement is through refund checks, some sort of transference of tuition funds and work study grants to the next semester for continuing students or a mix - students paid for tuition, books, room and board, supplies, technology fees, parking passes and transportation for services that are unable to be met. 
• Graduation. CUNY is compromised of 2-year and 4-year colleges, all of which have graduating classes this semester. What is being done for them since they will most likely have to miss senior festivities and commencement because of this virus. What is CUNY, and the individual colleges offering them to make up for them missing these big moments? Will graduation be scheduled for a later date in the summer? Will they get some sort of senior gifts for free? How does the CUNY system plan to celebrate their students if things do not clear up by May?
• Treat your adjuncts better. All professors need to be treated better, but it is clear that adjuncts are having a particularly hard time during all of these breaks and changes. If they are not being paid adequately for their time during this pandemic, CUNY needs to listen to them and meet their needs from now into the future.
• More communication with faculty. Students email their professors during these confusing times for help and guidance, and when the professors are unable to give them assurance, it makes situations hard. Faculty need to be told about these changes as soon as possible so that they can alert their students of what will be changing, and so that these professors have adequate time to do what they need to do to keep classes going. 

CUNY - There is over 270,000 students on average that attend your colleges. Do right by them during this stressful time. Do better by your faculty that actually have to associate with students. These sporadic decisions are hindering everyone more than it is helping, and raising stress levels. Your students and staff are the livelihood of the institution - listen to them and do what is in their best interests!