We Demand Portland State

1. Wait to return to campus until vaccines are widespread and heard immunity is built.
2. Be more transparent about their decision making
3. Put student and community lives before money and policy.

Portland State University has made the regrettable decision to return to in person instruction pre-maturely. Per usual, they did not consider the consequences of this decision fully and are endangering the lives of thousands of student, staff, faculty, and community members. This decision was made with little transparency and took the campus community off guard and we are not ready to safely return to campus. 

Portland Sate continually says the are promoting diversity and equity, however we know that marginalized communities have been hit the hardest by the COVID-19 pandemic. This is another instance of PSU putting finances first instead of their lackluster claims of equity and inclusion. For proof of this here is an excerpt from President Stephen Percy's email, "Faculty, staff and students have shown courage and ingenuity in the face of a pandemic that has taken a toll on our entire community, upending our routines, causing businesses to close or lay off workers and creating crushing child care burdens for families. Higher education has been hit particularly hard as Oregonians have faced making difficult choices. Like other universities, we have experienced a decline in enrollment that is forecast to continue next year, posing serious budgetary challenges as we look ahead. We will have much more information to share soon about our budget picture, and our intention is to be transparent during this entire process."

PSU is banking on vaccines being widespread by Fall term. However, with the current rollout and shortages of vaccines this is just not feasible. This is not a good decision and will result in more spread of COVID-19 and deaths because of the virus.

Show your support by signing the petition. You can also email President Percy at spercy@pdx.edu.