Hello I am a Freshman at Loyola who has worked for the University since November as a Library Student Assistant. I believe that the University's choice on how to handle the financial loss student employees are experiencing is unacceptable.

On March 28th the University contacted students stating if they wanted to continue getting paid, even though their on campus jobs have been terminated due to University closure, they had to use their accrued sick time. This means of compensation does not even come close to the total number of hours I have lost. For example, I am receiving one shift's worth of pay in return for a month and a half of unemployment. This is not an adequate nor fair solution to the financial strain students are currently experiencing.

According to Loyola’s mission, we all must try to embody “ethical behavior in business and in all professions, and the appropriate balance between justice and fairness”. I fail to see how the current fiscal policy aligns with this belief. In his March 27th homily, Pope Francis said the pandemic has exposed “our vulnerability and uncovers those false and superfluous certainties around which we have constructed ... our projects... and priorities." He urges us to replace fear with love, compassion, and caring. These words come from the first Jesuit to hold such a high position not only in the Church but also in the world, a fact Loyola is immensely proud of. But in these trying times Loyola has abandoned him and his words.

On March 5th the Office of Post-Secondary Education posted a memo that states “For students enrolled and performing FWS [Federal Work Study] at a campus that must close due to COVID-19, or for a Federal work-study student who is employed by an employer that closes as a result of COVID-19, the institution may continue paying the student Federal work-study wages during that closure.” Many universities across the country, like the University of Chicago and the University of Minnesota, have made the commitment to their students to continue paying them their average hours until the semester ends. The entire University of Wisconsin system has committed to vast financial reimbursements and payments to their students stating that although it greatly affects their bottom line, “it is the right thing to do”. I fail to understand why Loyola will not make such commitments to their students thus helping solve problems the University claims they are “extremely sensitive” to.

On March 27th, the US government signed the CARES Act into law, it gives adults the option to receive a $1,200 stimulus check and those under 16 have the option to receive $500, all intended to help with costs due to loss of employment. Unfortunately, given many college students are still listed as dependants on their parent’s taxes, they are not eligible for this help. This forces them to turn to unemployment benefits, who’s office saw about 3 million applications the week of the 15th alone, for help with expenses. Loyola students are being hung out to dry by the institutions that claim we are the future.

This financial decision clearly does not have students in mind. For 150 years Loyola has claimed to champion social justice, why not now? For 150 years Loyola has claimed to care about students’ well being, why not now? For 150 Loyola has claimed to follow Jesuit values, why not now? The Loyola community deserves to know why the financial security of a University with a $750 million endowment cannot look after its students. The Loyola community deserves to know why you have abandoned your students who need help now more than ever.

The goal of this petition is to gain some kind of stipend or additional financial assistance for Loyola's Student Employees. At the very least this petition aims to open a dialogue between Loyola's unrepresented student employees and the administration. All of these decisions are being made behind closed doors without much student consideration. The university claims it is built upon the value of " the pursuit of a more just society through service to others." If the university wishes to remain honest to its core values, it must repay the hundreds of students they are unjustly hurting.