After a rise in COVID-19 cases in the Amherst, MA area due to on campus students, UMass Amherst issued a stay at home quarantine for 14 days. Students can only leave their on-campus or off-campus housing for essential things such as grocery shopping, essential jobs and those related to laboratory work, and to get tested. They then called all local grocery stores (Whole Foods and Target amongst them) and told them to not allow any UMass students to work for the next 14 days, and if they are caught working, they can be suspended.

Many off campus students who have jobs at these stores need the money for necessities such as bills, rent, and food. The 14 days without pay prevent their stability in an already stressful time. The off campus students who rely on their part-time jobs heavily should not have to sacrifice their basic needs for the poor decisions of on-campus students who contributed to the rise of COVID-19 cases in the area.

I am asking you all to sign this petition to tell UMass Amherst Administration that they cannot take away an off campus student's right to work a part-time job in the area. I am calling on them to reverse their decision to not allow off campus students to work their part-time jobs in the area, to call back the businesses, and to not take any action against off campus students who take the risk to work to maintain their basic needs.

Please also use this link to flood admin emails!! SGA created this email campaign to let admin know your personal stories and how their decisions are affecting students. Together we can make a difference in students' lives! https://www.umass.edu/sga/student-jobs/