Since the start of the COVID-19 Pandemic, James Madison University students have been strung along by the University's administration with no form of transparency or communication. Many decisions have been made without the consultation of the same students whom these decisions affect. After a rise of cases on our campus, they have sent us home, only to have us return a month later. Most recently, they have taken away our Spring Break, a much needed break for students stressed by a full time course load. They justified this decision by granting 3 random days off during the semester, days students will not even notice if the University continues online. 

Being college students during these unprecedented times, we understand there are challenges and sacrifices that must be made. There is an understandable amount of stress from everyone on how to proceed. We believe however, that the conduct in which the Board of Visitors has proceeded is unacceptable. We, the student body of James Madison University, demand an open dialogue, such as a poll, between the students and administration. We demand the trust from administration that students will make safe decisions in regards to travel. 

There are many viable solutions that we, as students, and administration could agree upon. Some of these decisions could include, but are not limited to: reimplement Spring Break as planned, reimplement Spring Break with the remainder of the semester online, reimplement Spring Break with 2 weeks of mandatory quarantine upon return where classes are held online, or make our 3 days off consecutive days off. Our first solution would resemble the fall semester, where students were told to leave campus and come back in a month. The second solution would resemble our current Thanksgiving Break. The third solution would allow students to see family, many of whom travel far, while maintaining CDC guidelines of 14 days' quarantine. The final solution would act as a minimized Spring Break. 

We, the students of James Madison University, have had our voices silenced. The administration has not reached out to us or to our families in any aspect in regards to semester planning. We as students have must respect for this University and its administration, but there must be an open dialogue between students and administration during circumstances of this magnitude.