MUN faculty, students still have concerns ahead of return to campus

Memorial University of Newfoundland Faculty Association (MUNFA) members are calling for a delay in returning to campus, as in-person learning resumes Monday.

Classes with 99 people or less are slated to be held in-person beginning Monday, while larger classes will remain online. Classes have been held entirely online, with the exception of some lab courses, since Jan. 10.

MUNFA president Josh Lepawsky says a return to campus is desirable among faculty members, but they want it to happen under safe conditions — citing current safety concerns amid the COVID-19 pandemic and eruption of the Omicron variant.

"There's no particular reason to start that early given the state of COVID in the province," Lepawsky said Friday.

Although classes will resume in person, there's no guarantee all students will be in attendance. A walkout has been planned on social media to protest the decision.

Jessica Martin, a MUN student and member of Students for Online Accommodations Coalition which is organizing the walkout on Monday, says students are asked to email and or tweet their professors explaining their reasons for not wanting to attend classes in-person, while requesting accommodations from MUN officials.

Martin said the walkout was organized because students' concerns "weren't taken seriously."

"We've noticed that [MUN] administration has put requests out for online accommodations but there aren't any requirements of professors," she said.

Martin said while some professors are cooperating, others are refusing to post anything online, despite MUN's requests for accommodations.

Martin, who is immunocompromised, said she doesn't want to put herself at risk by attending classes on campus. Other students are concerned about having to isolate in the event they become sick, she said.

"All we're asking is to simply post your notes online, record yourself at your lecture, or set up a laptop with Skype going," she said. "Just be willing to accommodate and understand students have individual needs."

Martin said MUN has refused to put any regulations in place as doing so would infringe upon the academic freedom of professors.

"We are hoping that when MUN sees how many students are affected and upset by this, it will be enough to bring some regulations in."

In a letter to MUN president Vianne Timmons on Wednesday, MUNFA said 72 per cent of its membership who responded to a survey issued by the organization had chosen "no" when asked if the health, safety and guidance from MUN is adequate to ensure students, faculty and staff are safe on campus.