The University of Wyoming has released its plans for the 2020-2021 school year. These plans include moving many classes online. Online classes have an additional fee at the University of Wyoming, and in the plan that has been outlined, this fee has not been abolished. Given that many students will either not be able to take necessary classes in-person or will prefer to take online classes for their own personal health, the University should abolish the additional fee presented by these classes. This will promote public health and create fairness among students.

Not only that but for students who are high-risk or immunocompromised, online classes are likely to be their best option. Some of these students, however, may struggle to pay the additional fees and may even choose to "bite the bullet" and take in-person classes, which could ultimately harm them in the long run. The University should value not only student health and safety but also public health and safety over this fee.

UW went fully online in the Spring of 2020 and we did not have these additional fees put on to our student accounts. It is obvious that the university is able to function without it. Online classes have fewer overhead costs: there is no need to pay for the heating or cooling of a building for the students, for the lights in the classroom, etc. While the software that is needed to make these classes run does come at a cost, the infrastructure clearly already exists within the university and should not come at an extra cost to students, especially because many students were forced to choose online options due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In addition to this call for the abolition of this additional fee, we also ask that the university increase its financial accountability and transparency to UW students. We ask that they do this by:

• Providing each student with information as to where their money is going and exactly what they are paying for. Showing students how much money goes to exactly what will increase the university's accountability and decrease reckless spending. The transparency will also allow students to petition the university for charges they find to be unjust.
• Decreasing student fees based upon the different needs presented by the semester. For example, if Half Acre Gym will not be open due to the pandemic, do not charge us for its operations.

Students are likely to be experiencing financial hardship along with stress and major life changes due to the pandemic. The University should ease this burden by not overbearing students with charges that are unnecessary during this time.

We urge acting President Neil Theobald, President Edward Seidel, The University of Wyoming Board of Trustees, and the Associated Students at the University of Wyoming (ASUW) to abolish the additional fee for online classes and increase financial accountability and transparency to University of Wyoming students. After all, it is students who are the reason that the University exists.