3 UMass Amherst students suspended over maskless pic at off-campus party, lose $16K tuition and online classes
A Massachusetts college reportedly suspended three freshmen for violating Covid-19 health policy after a photo of the trio, maskless at a party held off-campus, was passed to school administrators. Parents of the three University of Massachusetts Amherst students have called the school ruling "devastating".
Since their suspension, the students have been studying remotely at their homes. However, last week they were reportedly cut off from virtual learning. They were not allowed to take their finals, so parents say their children’s semester was a total loss, both financially and academically.
READ MORE
As per reports, school administrators enacted a zero-tolerance, "high risk" Covid-19 pandemic stance in February that led to three female freshmen being cut off and having their $16,000 in tuition voided for the entire semester.
Parents Kristin and Scott, from Andover, Massachusetts, said, “There was a photo sent to the administration of these girls outside off-campus on a Saturday. This is why they lost a whole semester of their schooling.” Teresa and RJ, the parents of another one of the three students, said: “She was valedictorian and class president of her high school. She did everything right.”
In early March, around 200 UMass-Amherst students were suspended following a large party that administrators said posed “an immediate health risk to other residents” on campus. The three suspended students now have to re-apply to the school for the upcoming fall semester and have lost all credits from this spring semester, the parents alleged.
In response to criticism this week, UMass Amherst issued the following statement: "Students received a number of public health messages this semester that emphasized the importance of following public health protocols and the consequences for not complying, and those messages were also shared on UMass social media channels."
A February 7 UMass Amherst letter to the community read: "All students, whether residing in campus residences halls or in off-campus housing in the surrounding area, are directed to self-sequester. Self-sequestration means that students must stay in their residences, both on and off-campus, except to get meals, undergo twice-weekly Covid testing, or to attend medical appointments...Failure to comply with these directives is a violation of the Code of Student Conduct and will result in disciplinary action, which may include removal from residence halls and/or suspension. Also, all campus athletic competitions and practices are canceled."
Students on campus told reporters that while the rules have been tight, it was for good reason. “Maybe a little harsh but like I understand it because you’re not supposed to be doing that,” one student said. “The town of Amherst made it really clear they don’t want any big parties,” another student said.
The Republican Party’s Charles Duane Baker Jr, the 72nd governor of Massachusetts, issued a revised order effective from April 30, 2021, requiring people to wear masks or face-coverings in indoor public places and outdoors when they are unable to maintain 6 feet distance from other people. Face coverings are still required at all times in indoor public places. Face coverings also continue to be required at all times at events, whether held indoors or outdoors and whether held in a public space or private home, except for when eating or drinking. At smaller gatherings in private homes, face coverings are recommended but not required.
Around the same time, the CDC updated its advice, to say that fully-vaccinated people — two weeks after their second dose in a two-dose series, such as the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, or two weeks after a single-dose vaccine, such as Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine — could now be outside safely, in small groups, without a face mask. In large crowds, face masks are still recommended.