Currently, the air quality in the Merced is above 150, which is unhealthy for everyone regardless of sensitivity.

Given that the parking lot for students is about 15 minutes from Academic buildings, this can severely damage students since they must walk a total of 30 minutes in this unhealthy air.

Other factors in play would be the housing of off-campus students. Although the students have air conditioning and filtering in the on-campus buildings, not all students are guaranteed healthy air in the town of Merced where the majority of students live. The only safe location that students can have cleaner air would be the library, but not all off-campus students can wait in the library for their next class since the total population is over 8,000 

In addition to these factors, CSU Stanislaus has canceled their classes due to the air quality. It will take some time for the air quality to return to healthy standards, so it is best that classes are canceled and midterm exams are postponed for this week and next week.

It is extremely safer to find a location, outside of the Central Valley, to ensure the safety and students of the University of California Merced.