The union for resident assistants and peer mentors at the University of Massachusetts Amherst published an open letter addressed to Chancellor Kumble Subbaswamy Monday afternoon saying the time has come for the college to make “serious investments in the safety and wellbeing of its students” as a surge of coronavirus cases has engulfed the campus.
Nearly 190 UMass residential life staff members, comprising more than two-thirds of all RAs and peer mentors at the school, voted to declare ‘no confidence’ in Subbaswamy’s administration.
“We tried to warn you,” the letter reads. “Yet you, in your desire to collect housing and dining revenue, decided to open campus without the proper safety precautions, leading to the present coronavirus outbreak.”
The labor group noted that their confidence in the administration could be restored so long as university officials meet their demands to increase safety measures and ensure economic security for students.
The union is calling for the university to hire “enough” residential hall security staff to enforce guest restrictions 24/7, as well as hire more contact tracers and quarantine staff to ensure that newly-infected students are isolated within hours of testing positive.
Due to the present self-sequester orders as a result of the campus’ “high risk” status, union members also urge UMass to employ and fully pay all student workers, reimbursing them for any lost wages from both on and off-campus jobs.
The letter also demands stricter actions when it comes to student socialization.
“All fraternities and other student organizations that host parties and flagrantly flaunt COVID guidelines — such as Theta Chi — should face immediate sanctions, up to and including the suspension/revocation of their status as a student organization,” the letter reads. “All students documented for severe COVID guideline violations shall be removed from campus and educated about the seriousness of COVID-19 once they are off campus.”
As of Thursday evening, the campus’ COVID-19 testing dashboard reported 434 total active cases and a 1.61% seven-day cumulative positivity rate.
In an update to students Wednesday, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and Campus Life Brandi Hephner LaBanc said contact tracing from the most recent surge reveals that small social gatherings, usually between three to seven people, are continuing to take place in residence halls and off-campus.
“Remember that asymptomatic individuals can spread the virus to others even before they test positive,” Hephner LaBanc said. “When we are able to reduce restrictions, limiting your contact to a committed, regular social bubble will be your best strategy for socializing responsibly.”
She said while “efforts to contain the spread of the virus have been effective,” the college will remain in a high-risk position with restrictions still in place.
“Violations of restrictions will continue to be investigated by the Student Conduct and Community Standards office,” Hephner LaBanc said. “To date, nearly 70 cases remain under review with resolutions expected in the coming weeks. Outcomes already delivered for violations of COVID safety protocols include suspension and removal from campus housing.”
In the letter, residential life staff urged the chancellor’s administration to meet with them and address the issues before they deepen.
“We are aware that these investments in public health and economic security will be costly, and we urge the university to draw from its $300 million reserves and state and federal aid to make these investments,” the labor group wrote. “No one should have to choose between paying rent or risking COVID infection.”
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