Today, president Trump announced a belated state of emergency regarding the covid-19 pandemic. While some colleges are taking the lead and putting student wellbeing first, others are not. Schools like Stanford are allowing optional finals for their undergraduate students. As basic human needs are stripped due to this global health crisis, such as access to food, shelter, students should not be forced to bear more weight on their shoulders. Make finals for winter quarter 2020 optional for all undergraduate UCI students. Step up.