Covid-19: What are Students' Rights Over Courses & Housing?
College students have figured out that the term was like no other before, and not a few won't like it This wasn't the term that they applied for, if not hoping months ago. More cases of coronavirus will be confirmed in the coming weeks, and months, prompting you to wonder if you must leave the university. It's time to get to know the students' rights.
You wonder if you must drop out. The answer is NO. You've been told about the cooling period, which happens after you receive an offer from the university of your choice. It may be long passed that deadline, so you would go to your next option. The University of Leeds would allow cancellation within the first fourteen days after the first day of teaching. If you first learned about it in this post, then it would be pointless to blame yourself (for not making inquiries). The other option is not promising. (Safety is your priority, and the concept of the office is dead. For now.) Some college students are locked in dormitories (or hotel dorms like Westin Copley Place) while others learned that their lessons would be online only. It may be a different picture a few weeks from now, but you must have been used to it. There's another thing to worry about.
Doctors warned about "twindemic" during this fall of uncertainty. If you've been thinking too much about the restrictions and the ever-changing regulations, then you must have forgotten the flu. And the flu symptoms and Covid-19 symptoms are quite different. If you still haven't got a flu shot, then schedule an appointment with your doctor. (If you've been living under a rock, try persimmon seeds.) What else?
A recent survey said that white support for Black Lives Matter slipped. The selling, buying, and abusing of black bodies is this country's oldest trade. And McDonald's introduced the McJordan burger eighteen years ago. (This celebrity meal, which was a first, was the fast-food chain's way of honoring basketball legend Michael Jordan.) You might have seen some clips of HBO's "Watchmen" many times, and it might not be enough. For many people, ignorance is bliss. No one would see antiracism taking center stage during this confusing time. It might be the right time, as the pandemic force everyone to pause and reflect. Perhaps Stanley Kramer's "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner" wasn't trite when you first saw it (on cable). You can ponder about it (and chat with friends) later. You must tackle the lowdown of this new term right away.
5 Questions You Must Ask (and Get an Immediate Response )
You want to keep on studying , but the pandemic makes you think about going back home . And you happen to be living in a dorm . Can you cancel your accommodation ? Read your contract once more, as university-owned accommodation is more flexible. You're liable for your rent due until the end of the term, so talk to your accommodation provider (or landlord/landlady). If you're sharing a room, then don't leave without notice. (It's unfair to your dorm mate, even if you're annoyed at the sight of dirty dishes in the kitchen sink every other morning.) You can also talk to the Students' Union, which can enter into discussion with the accommodation provider (or landlord/landlady) on your behalf. It's better to leave without any trace of hard feelings. And you don't want to be pursued for unpaid rent.
Your course is online only . What to do ? You can put forward that "frustration" argument, but going to court could be a waste of time and money. Make the necessary adjustments. Talk to your department. And ask your tutor and course mates (for guidance). If this will result to more free time, then it won't be bad as you first think. (You read "V for Vendetta" one more time, becoming obsessed about the Guy Fawkes mask. You wondered if your college held a Guy Fawkes Night Celebration. You might consider an online celebration. It's possible to devote half an hour to it.)
What if you fall ill ? If you're living in a dorm, there's a possibility of you going home. You still have to pay the rent, though. Remote learning has its advantages, and one of which is pre-recorded lectures. You don't have to worry about missing it while you lie down in your bed. You imagine that you're inside a plane, and you're heading to the Pacific side (or Atlantic side). You look to the left and see the attractive passenger on seat 10B. Are you looking at your soulmate? The thought of it could make you feel better.
The course is not what you expected . Can you get your money back ? The college administrators seem to go back and forth, as they try hard to provide the best possible education in these difficult circumstances to you. The recent presidential debate must not disillusioned you. Furthermore, this is not the same as buying a new laptop (or TV) and returning it after you test it and you're unhappy about it. In other words, this case doesn't fall under the consumer rights act. It may be possible to file a complaint if you don't have access to research facilities and the library and the lecture is not what is described in the module. You can discuss with it your tutor. If you happen to be a Literature major, then it would be a non-issue.
Part -time work is not possible . What to do ? If you're living in a dorm, then speak to your accommodation provider (or landlord/landlady). Missing a payment could result in a punitive fee, so arrange a meeting as soon as possible. If you're still living in your home, then you must not be upset about it. There's fear - and hope - in the changing of colors of the leaves and the cold air.
The Road Less Traveled
You find out that your community is in the state's highest-risk coronavirus category for three consecutive weeks or more. Don't freak out. There's no need to stock food in those (free) community fridges. And it might not be wise to do an auto touring. Study harder, but make it a habit to chat with your friends. If you have a hobby, indulge in it. And wearing a mask is not a political issue.
