We, as immunocompromised and concerned law students, are alarmed to see that the law school is planning to resume in-person instruction this coming semester. As the COVID-19 infections across our state and our nation continue to rise, we are growing increasingly hesitant about returning to campus. At this point in time, we fear that a safe return to campus is virtually impossible. We would like to bring the reasons for our concern to your attention, as we urge SMU Law to provide distance learning options for the Spring 2022 semester.

The probability of a student bringing the COVID-19 virus to campus is currently very high. While we appreciate the facial-covering policy held by most faculty members, this will require very strict enforcement to be effective. If a single infected student fails to wear their mask properly, the risk for infection to those around them is very high. Additionally, under the new CDC quarantine guidelines adopted by SMU, infected students do not have to test negative for the virus prior to returning to campus. This policy will result in COVID-positive students entering our classrooms and common spaces. As we have learned, the coronavirus thrives in enclosed, indoor spaces with large groups of people. Further, the new Omicron variant has shown to be incredibly contagious, regardless of vaccination status. 

Though we are vaccinated and wear masks, we feel the risk of COVID-19 transmission is currently far too high. We do not want to sacrifice our health or academic performance to COVID-19. At the moment, we as though we are being forced to take this risk. We feel it is inequitable for students such as ourselves to have to choose between safety and achieving their academic goals. Therefore, we would like to respectfully request the option to utilize distance-learning for the Spring 2022 semester.

We hope you understand our concerns, and consider allowing a distance-learning option for law students. Many of us are immunocompromised ourselves, have young children, or live with other high-risk individuals. While we would prefer to attend classes in-person, we feel this is a necessary step for keeping all members of the SMU Law community safe and well. 

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,
Concerned Law Students