An open letter to the University of Guelph to delay the return of in-person learning has received support from numerous groups ahead of the slated return to in-person learning on Jan. 31.
The letter addresses the issues with the return to in-person learning, citing the belief the return to campus will accelerate community transmission and compromise the health and safety of the U of G and the Guelph community at large.
“The decision to return to campus on January 31st will have catastrophic consequences. As well as the immediate increased risk of illness, hospitalization, and death, COVID-19 has long-term effects which are not yet well understood, including the cluster of symptoms known as Long COVID. The University’s decision to return to campus will disproportionately affect marginalized members of the University community including people with disabilities and chronic health conditions, people with families, international students, Black, Indigenous, People of Colour (BIPOC), and low-income people. As we have learned throughout the pandemic, low-income and BIPOC students are most likely to live in multi-generational homes with family members who are vulnerable to exposure. The stress and anxiety of potential exposure may cause significant mental health issues, and the inevitable absences of ill students and faculty will greatly impact course delivery. The quality of student learning will be significantly reduced under these stressors, and students should not be required to choose between their health and their education,” the letter reads.
The letter, which began circulating on social media on Monday morning, received over 100 signatures by mid-afternoon and had been shared across Twitter by U of G faculty and staff.
The letter states three key points the authors would like to see, which consist of calling for all students to be provided with the option to fulfill all course and program requirements remotely for the duration of the winter 2022, providing all teaching staff with the option to work remotely and offer increased support to those struggling with student engagement in an online format through the Office of Scholarship and Learning for the duration of the winter 2022 semester and provide and encourage the use of adequate PPE (N95 or equivalent masks) and sanitation procedures for all in-person activity on campus.
