Due to the recent COVID-19 pandemic that forces drastic changes upon student life, student mental well-being, financial stability and the quality of our education, this petition is to ensure our voices are ringing highly as the appropriate committees decide on how to, if at all, re-allocate the money for campus resources provided by student tuition.

Likewise, in a recent email received March 31, 2020 from Mark Reed, the Class of 2020 will be having a virtual graduation ceremony, which costs substantially less than a formal ceremony ($0). Please deeply consider the message below and SIGN AND SHARE for a reimbursement on our tuition that is going to waste within the university. 

Please read below a message that was shared directly to Mark Reed, The President of Saint Joseph’s University, on behalf of all students, especially the class of 2020:

 

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“On behalf of the student body, and especially the class of 2020, we share our concerns, fears, and demands:

 

To put it simply, we completely understand why these measures in response to COVID-19 need to occur. No one is being blamed. It’s easy to tell that the health and safety of the community is put first, and for that we commend those responsible for implementing these actions. Yet, again, we ask that the students’ well-beings (both financial and mental) be highly considered during these continuously transitioning phases with the remainder of the school year. The student body that gives SJU its eminence should be worth more than the dollar the school makes upon our enrollment every year. With that, tuition reimbursement for students should be a decision that is reverently and easily made.

 

Please highly consider the change in events, or the lack thereof when deciding whether or not to reimburse the heartbroken student body. With a change in campus life so drastic, I imagine funds provided by student tuition must be re-allocated.

 

In the simplest terms I can relay: with a lack of student life/campus events, classroom and resource utilization, and full access to the campus itself for a majority of the students, we are financially and experientially robbed.

 

The student body understands that no one could have predicted or prevented the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet consider how it’s affecting us in more ways than just our education:

 

Think of the students who have no one to go home to.

 

Think of the students who do not have safe/warm/stable households outside of campus.

 

Think of students who gambled their futures financially for the experiences that SJU gives them apart from every other school.

 

Think of the students who are suffering, or will suffer from the change in their daily lives.

 

Think of the students who cannot work to support themselves during enforced quarantine and social distancing.

 

Think of students who do not have the technological resources to participate in the new online class transition.

 

Think of why we chose SJU, and what sets this school apart from the rest.

 

Think of the students whose homes are far from campus which would hinder their abilities to be present for a graduation ceremony later within the next academic school year. 

 

Many of us, the senior class, feels cheated. Although a reimbursement for our tuition would not fix the health, safety, or emotion during this global pandemic, it would truly, unabashedly demonstrate SJU’s gratitude for the students that make SJU what it is today. With that, the gratitude would be reciprocated by us for eternity.

 

For many students whom do not have the financial support of our families, I ask you to consider the mental well-being and financial safety of your students during this time of global concern. 

 

On behalf of the student body, especially the seniors who cannot fathom that their final weeks on Hawk Hill will endure, please do not ignore our outcry.

 

With hope and sincerity,

The Class of 2020