Given the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic, and Rutgers University's decision to complete the remainder of the semester via online instruction (for the sake of public safety), we the students feel that this institution across all it's campuses have both a moral and economic responsibility to at least partially reimburse its students for their Spring 2020 academic tuition. Many of us are not only facing issues in adjusting to online learning due to lack of access and resources, but are now additionally trying to juggle housing, travel, unemployment, lack of adequate healthcare access, and financial difficulties too.

We understand that the economic implications of COVID-19 are unprecendeted, however, a lot of our students come from vulnerable populations and underserved communities. The government's overly generous donations of $1200 per person do little to financially sustain its population. This one time payment excludes undocumented peoples - a lot of whom are daily wagers currently out of work. As the largest university in New Jersey we inevitably have many undocumented students attending Rutgers University who will feel the impact of this harder than others. Rutgers' decision to not offer a partial reimbursement during this global crisis shows a massive disregard for the mental, physical, and financial wellbeing of it's most valuable asset - the students.

Our tuition includes lab, material, campus, and enrollment fees, much of which we can no longer utilize due to in-person classes ending. This means we cannot reap the benefits of these services which we have paid for; as libraries, computer labs, gymnasiums are all closed until further notice. For many, this money could not only go towards securing food and rent payments, but medical expenses for themselves and their families as many parents are either unemployed, or on a zero-hour work schedule meaning they technically cannot even claim unemployment.

For this reason, we call on the Rutgers University Presidents, Chancellors, Administration, and Board of Governors to do the following:

1. Reimburse the students in its entirety for the following charges to our accounts: COMPUTER FEE, CAMPUS FEE, COURSE/OTHER FEES, and SCHOOL FEE as none of these are being taken advantage of by the students due to campus closures. This money alone amounts to $1401.

2. Financially compensate students for at least 30% of academic tuition, as both the quality and quantity of our education has been severely compromised by the COVID-19 pandemic.

3. All Financial Aid be credited for use in a future semester, since those receiving financial aid do not deserve to have valuable funding wasted this semester.

I came to America as a refugee in the summer of 2015. I am returning to complete my degree after a two year hiatus due to financial difficulties, and given the current circumstances, may not return in the Fall. Currently my younger brother, an "essential employee" is the only one in my household with a steady source of income during this pandemic. And I understand that I am still in a place of much greater privilege that many other students. As someone who has worked in an institute of higher education in New Jersey for three years, as well as for a municipality in NJ which houses a prestigious Ivy League, I understand fully that colleges and universities have ample funding to spend wherever they see benefit - even when it may come at the cost of it's vulnerable student population or local community. I consider myself a proud Rutgers University student because I deem this institution to be better than such heinous practices. More than financial, this is a humanitarian issue that requires us to come together (not physcially, please #StayHome) and support those in need.

We hope that Rutgers is taking care of all it's employees. Not just the faculty, staff, and administration, but also the security, janitorial, and custodial staff too. We now ask Rutgers University to do right by it's students, so we can hopefully ALL happily return in the Fall.