Memorial University of Newfoundland has announced today (January 19, 2022) that all classes listed as in-person classes with less than 100 students will be on campus effective January 31. Many students have concerns around this announcement and are worried about their health and safety, as well as the health and safety of their close contacts. We will list some of these concerns below. This petition is for MUN to offer a completely remote option for all courses that have been completely remote in pervious semesters due to COVID.

-By making this decision, MUN is risking the health and safety of over 20,000 faculty, staff and students, as well as their close contacts (at 10 per person that number could be over 200,000). The only choice for students worried about their health and safety at this time is to drop in person courses. There are very few courses offered this semester with an online option, and this will lead to many students delaying their graduation date.

-There has been no plan announced regarding student absences due to COVID isolation requirements. The decision of what to do if a student is forced to miss a lecture or test/exam due to COVID has been left up to the Professors of each course.

-It is impossible to enforce social distancing rules and mask wearing on the entirety of campus at all times.

-Studies have shown that N95 masks along with face shields offer the best chance of protection against COVID, yet students are not provided these things, and it is not clear where we are able to buy them.

-As of January 19, 2022, Newfoundland and Labrador is at alert level 4, with 18 people in hospital. 9 people have died from COVID in the province since January 2, with 2 of those announced just yesterday on January 18. Active case counts are not an accurate number since the province has severely limited the situations in which people are allowed to get tested, and are not including those who test positive on a rapid test. It is unclear how in-person classes at MUN were not safe before January 31, but will be safe on January 31.

-The concerns of many students are not being addressed. MUN has not sent out any form of survey or questionnaire to allow students the voice their opinions on the situation.

Anyone who agrees that MUN should provide an online option for classes this semester are encouraged to sign and share this petition, as well as add a reason for signing if your concerns have not been addressed in these points.

For questions/comments regarding this situation, feel free to email us at muninperson@gmail.com