Demand for Remote Learning from University of Washington
Demand for Remote Learning from University of Washington
The Issue
We have created this petition to demand that the University of Washington do the responsible thing in light of current COVID-19 conditions and offer remote learning to all students during Autumn quarter and into the 2021-2022 academic year. Requiring students to come to campus classrooms contributes to super-spreading conditions. The disparity between the reality of COVID-19 risk at this time and the university’s official response is deeply distressing.
Scientists have predicted that transmission of the Delta variant will peak in mid-October, with daily deaths more than triple what they are now. These scientists are begging Americans to continue to distance in order to minimize morbidity and mortality, yet our institutions of higher learning in Washington are forcing students, faculty, and staff back into crowded classrooms. They are doing this knowing that many of those they force into classrooms have pre-existing conditions that put them at great danger of serious illness and even death if they catch COVID-19. They are doing this knowing that vaccination efficacy is declining over time, the state and surrounding counties are not at herd immunity, breakthrough cases in those who are fully vaccinated are increasing, and that even third doses of MRNA vaccines are of dubious efficacy in protecting those who are immunocompromised. They are doing this knowing that many students have children at home who are too young to vaccinate.
Experts tell us it is only a matter of time if we do exactly what University of Washington and other institutions of higher learning are doing (i.e., forcing people into close proximity with the highest rate of transmission we have seen in the pandemic so far). Our community deserves better. Our institutions of higher learning should certainly know better.
We are asking the University of Washington, President Ana Mari Cauce, and the UW Board of Regents to hear the demands of its students, staff, and faculty, and continue offering classes in the only way we know is safe for our UW community, our local communities, and the region. Remote learning may not be ideal for some, but we know from the past year that it is totally possible, works well, and increases institutional access for many. We demand remote access to our education during this pandemic.
Please also consider signing these other petitions making similar requests:
The Issue
We have created this petition to demand that the University of Washington do the responsible thing in light of current COVID-19 conditions and offer remote learning to all students during Autumn quarter and into the 2021-2022 academic year. Requiring students to come to campus classrooms contributes to super-spreading conditions. The disparity between the reality of COVID-19 risk at this time and the university’s official response is deeply distressing.
Scientists have predicted that transmission of the Delta variant will peak in mid-October, with daily deaths more than triple what they are now. These scientists are begging Americans to continue to distance in order to minimize morbidity and mortality, yet our institutions of higher learning in Washington are forcing students, faculty, and staff back into crowded classrooms. They are doing this knowing that many of those they force into classrooms have pre-existing conditions that put them at great danger of serious illness and even death if they catch COVID-19. They are doing this knowing that vaccination efficacy is declining over time, the state and surrounding counties are not at herd immunity, breakthrough cases in those who are fully vaccinated are increasing, and that even third doses of MRNA vaccines are of dubious efficacy in protecting those who are immunocompromised. They are doing this knowing that many students have children at home who are too young to vaccinate.
Experts tell us it is only a matter of time if we do exactly what University of Washington and other institutions of higher learning are doing (i.e., forcing people into close proximity with the highest rate of transmission we have seen in the pandemic so far). Our community deserves better. Our institutions of higher learning should certainly know better.
We are asking the University of Washington, President Ana Mari Cauce, and the UW Board of Regents to hear the demands of its students, staff, and faculty, and continue offering classes in the only way we know is safe for our UW community, our local communities, and the region. Remote learning may not be ideal for some, but we know from the past year that it is totally possible, works well, and increases institutional access for many. We demand remote access to our education during this pandemic.
Please also consider signing these other petitions making similar requests:
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Petition created on September 12, 2021