The UC system is currently being sued for not refunding students the mandatory fees for services we could no longer access during the 2019-2020 academic year. A month before the 2020-2021 academic year starts, after various students have already accepted financial aid and loan packages, UC Davis decided to cut undergraduate financial aid packages for each student by thousands of dollars. Some students’ aid was cut as much as 85%, leaving them stranded in the middle of a pandemic. This is intransparent of the university, and their decision has devastated not only low income students, but the entire student population. They have cut our aid while refusing to cut unnecessary fees from our student tuition, so we refuse to remain silent about this injustice. 

Students have already been greatly disadvantaged by COVID-19. Since February, off-campus students residing in the Davis area were forced to continue paying for a lease they no longer required since the university had cancelled in person instruction. Thousands of students depended on the university as a source of  income, but as on-campus activities were halted, many people lost their university jobs. All summer, the Davis off campus housing pages have been flooded by students attempting to find someone to take over their lease. Most students signed an off-campus lease back in December before the university waited to announce last minute that fall quarter would be remote. As such, various students were counting on financial aid as a form of rent relief; this affects off-campus landowners and the Davis community since students will no longer have enough money for rent. The same day financial aid was cut, various students were also informed that they would no longer qualify for “work-study.” These students no longer qualify for their jobs and will be laid off. 

It is no secret that BIPOC and minority students are the ones most severely impacted by this pandemic. By cutting aid, UC Davis is hurting the “diverse” population they are proud to advertise. By cutting aid, UC Davis is disadvantaging our undocumented community since they do not qualify for unemployment benefits after losing their on-campus job. By cutting aid, UC Davis is being inconsiderate of students who have lost their homes because of the fires devastating the state of California. By cutting aid, UC Davis is ignoring the great adversity many minority groups are currently facing in this country. By cutting aid, UC Davis is disregarding the current national unemployment crisis. During civil unrest and an economic recession, our student population needs the university’s aid now more than ever.  

La Raza Pre-Law Student Association at UC Davis is an organization that values the education of our minority members and looks to create a voice for historically underrepresented groups. Financial insecurity that is a direct outcome of the university’s actions greatly devastates our communities. As such, we ask that all organizations at the UC Davis campus sign and share this petition. UC Davis, and the UC system as a whole, must be held liable for their actions. 

We ask that the Regents of the University of California alongside Chancellor May, send an email explaining in detail to students why their financial aid was cut and where those resources are now going. We also ask that those students affected by this aid decrease have their financial aid packages reassessed to consider the current financial difficulties we have mentioned in this petition.  

To any person that can sympathize with our cause, we also ask you to sign and spread this petition. Thank you.

-La Raza Pre-Law Student Association at UC Davis 2020-2021