In the new year of January 2022, the students of X University are being told that the majority of courses will be returning back to campus. This means that most courses which began online, will be required to resume in person. Students do not have a say as to whether they’d like to continue online or not.

Amidst the pandemic, students all over the globe that have taken the opportunity to partake in the great programs X University, international students that went back home for the pandemic for their families and those who may not be able to return back to the university are now faced with the problem that X University will be expecting their in person presence fully by February 28th, 2022. In many cases and departments, X does not provide online classes, thus not even giving alternative classes to take. This loss of choice is a rapidly growing issue, requiring students to go back in person is a problem for many as so there is a large uncertainty with current students schedules.

Following the recent announcement by President Lachemi about returning back to in person learning, students were told that the study areas and public lounges they once enjoyed while waiting for their next classes are no longer available to them. Safety has also been a very large concern for most, this new policy grants no care or respect to those who are immune compromised and uncomfortable with going back in person. Although the University has mandated students be fully vaccinated, since the TTC is an essential service, there are no vaccine mandates let alone capacity enforcements in place for the riders. Students having to take the TTC are exposed to this risk on each commute to class. In addition, class sizes and lectures have not been reduced in anticipation of in person learning so there is no form of social distancing in classrooms or auditoriums. Reducing exposure has been the main concern during this entire pandemic, so lets keep it that way.

Not everyone will have the ability to return in person, and X University is doing their students a great disservice by stripping away the choice to continue online on such short notice. This petition will serve as a voice and a way to help students worldwide.