The official attendance policy at SVA, available to read on page 12 of the Student Handbook, states the following: “It should be noted that no absences are considered ‘excused’ for the purposes of this policy, regardless of the reason or an individual instructor’s policy. Absences due to illness are not excused; students who are ill should not provide doctor’s notes to faculty members, nor should a faculty member accept such documentation from a student.”

While accommodations are sometimes available to students with disabilities, there is no such flexibility for able-bodied students who also sometimes have to miss class due to illness. As a result, a no-excuse attendance policy leaves students feeling pressured to attend class no matter what, even if they are severely ill. Just in the last few weeks we have seen our peers come to class with the flu - no one should ever be in class with these illnesses, and yet everyone’s health is threatened regularly when students prioritize their grades over their health as a direct result of this policy. It is an especially dangerous gamble for SVA’s immunosuppressed population, who do not have the physical capability to fight off illness the way their peers can.

We, the student body, are calling for the reconsideration of this unreasonable policy, which seems to have been created without much thought or care for the well-being of students. It forces all of us to choose between our health and our grades - a sacrifice that no one should have to make.