As we begin to head back into the spring semester, cases and hospitalizations of the Omicron variant are increasingly becoming more of an issue and are spreading quicker than ever before throughout North Carolina and the entire country. While we are very eager to get back on campus, many students of North Carolina Central University have also expressed that they do not feel comfortable attending in-person classes on account of this worsening COVID-19 wave.

The point of this petition is to let our chancellor, Dr. Johnson O. Akinleye our state governor, Mr. Roy Cooper, and all eyes that are on our Illustrious North Carolina Central University know that until the case numbers begin to decrease once again, Eagles are NOT okay with attending class in-person and do not think it is fair that we have risk our health going to in-person classes during a pandemic. We are asking for [at least] the first two weeks of the semester to be virtual, and for it to be extended as needed.

Regardless of what your views are on masking, vaccines, or any of the other COVID-19 protocols, this is not about politics. This is a about the health and safety of you, me, and all other fellow students and staff of North Carolina Central University! Many schools and colleges throughout America have already made the potentially life-saving decision to start off virtual, let’s try to make NCCU next.