Hello Supporters,
In the past week, this petition has garnered tremendous support, and we thank you for being a part of this. Over 3,500 have signed the petition, making it clear: the University’s mismanagement of this mental health crisis will not go unaddressed. We have the power to push back against them.
Since we have come together, there have been small successes. We praise individual professors who have stepped up to address burnout. This can be in the form of delaying assignments or canceling a class so students can catch up. We hope as we become more vocal, more professors will follow suit. However, it’s hard to count on all professors to do the right thing. I think we all know from experience that many professors are not so empathetic. So our struggle for mental health relief comes down to two different battlefields: demanding change from the university itself, as well as speaking out against unfairness in our individual classes and departments.
To further voice our struggle we are organizing an IN PERSON PROTEST, Wednesday, April 7th from 12 to 3 pm at Flint Loop! **THIS IS IN FOUR DAYS**
This protest will advocate for
-No penalties on past due assignments.
-Instructors drop lowest assignment grades.
-Extending due dates for relevant assignments until the last day of classes.
-Expanding student eligibility for the Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory grading system. This is important for students who depend on maintaining a good GPA.
-Demanding the University prioritize mental health.
Ground Rules
-Wear a mask at all times!
-Stay socially distanced (or within your own small group.)
-Be peaceful.
-Do NOT make a mess (custodial staff is not responsible for poor decisions from the UB administration)
Other recommendations
-BRING A SIGN!
-bring food/water for yourself.
-Think of comfort: bring folding chairs, a good coat or a blanket.
-check the weather conditions and plan accordingly
Why Flint Loop?
Flint Loop is a wide space where students can properly gather in a distanced fashion. Our protest will also be in view of the UB administration's offices located in this area.
Where to find us:
Updates can be found on our Instagram: @UB_burned_out. Please be sure to follow it!
We encourage you to come out on April 7th with friends! Encourage classmates to come along. So please join us if you can. If you have class or any other responsibilities, don't feel pressured to miss those. The UB North Campus is notorious for what many believe is an “anti-protest” design. Perhaps we can prove them wrong.
WHAT ELSE CAN WE DO???
Focus one class/ department at a time.
While aiming our larger protests at the University’s administration, it is best that we also focus on persuading our own individual professors to take measures to ensure fairness this semester. Speaking to your professors may be difficult as a single person. You can organize with your class via group chats or a class email list on UBLearns. Also, email the Dean’s and Department chairs of your own major. Make them aware of this petition, the protest, and the mass burnout that's going unaddressed.
This is no small effort, it requires diligence and courage from groups of students who wish to see a change. We are not fighting this alone. We have been placed in an unreasonable academic climate to function in. A dilemma by the University at Buffalo’s design. We started this petition as a couple of upset students; we knew we were not alone. The reason we have resonated this far is because the burnout has affected each one of us. We must make professors and faculty aware of this, and we must ask for solutions from them as well.
We have said this before. The University’s administration knows they made the wrong call, and they are simply doing damage control for their brand. They don’t want a bad reputation for the school. They have released and most likely will continue to release statements that sidestep our issues. They will talk about how “it was complicated” to plan out this semester and place the rest of the blame on us, the students.
So please spread the word. Contact your professors. Email your department heads. Come with friends and classmates on Wednesday. Show the University that we are not just names on a computer screen. We exist, we are burnt out, and our needs will not be shoved aside.
Looking forward to meeting many of you soon.