Given the current uncertainty about COVID over the winter period, and remembering the catastrophic surge in cases and deaths early in 2021, we as students ask that the TCD JF exams which start on the 10th should be held online once again for the safety of students and staff.

While measures are in place on campus such as social distancing and face coverings, many students will be required to travel for exams. Public transport remains at 100% capacity and some students must take multiple buses or trains to get to campus, increasing possible exposure. The latest daily cases stand at 21,384 and there has been a positivity rate of 50.8% in the last week as of 09.01.2022. These numbers are reminiscient of last year's surge. It is not fair or reasonable to require students to travel to campus given these facts, moreso to require them to spend time in crowded exam halls. 

In addition, accessibility has become one of the central facets in combating the pandemic. Covid-19 has forced each of us to tailor certain practices, in particular towards the online arena, so as to curb its transmission. This year, College has not put in place an adequate hybrid learning environment for students in Semester 1. Contradictory communications, such as backtracking on promised remote access to learning, were issued in the first months of the academic term and resulted in students stuck at home and abroad not being able to prepare for their exams. In addition, with a large share of learning having taken place online, some students might feel unprepared to take in-person handwritten exams. In a recent survey from #NoInPersonExams, 66% of students indicated from our College that they had most of their teaching online in the first Semester.

We understand that management is keen to resume normal campus life, and we are too. However, the balance of risk must be carefully considered with students' voices included in the decision making. For us, the risk is too high with an accepted and viable option available by holding online exams. At the time of writing, many third level institutions have moved exams online and we ask TCD to do the same immediately.