As a college freshman starting at Penn State in the midst of a pandemic, I had hoped that Penn State would take the time to prioritize their students' safety and health. However, it has become increasingly obvious that Penn State values their students' and parents' money rather than their actual well-being and health.
To name one example, they've refused to lower tuition costs, forcing students, such as out-of-state and international students, to pay full tuition for a majority, if not all, of their classes to be held remotely. I understand that these are tough times for everyone, yet that is exactly the reason why they should lower tuition. So many families across the country, and world, have lost their jobs due to COVID-19 and have had to make amends with the circumstances and challenges they were faced with due to this pandemic.
Another example of Penn State, and several other universities, prioritizing making a profit over their students, is agreeing to participate in BIG10 football this fall. It is important for these institutions to sort out their priorities, especially during a global pandemic. They should acknowledge that students are going to ignore the social distancing regulations and use football season as another excuse to tailgate and have social gatherings. Obviously, the university cannot control the decisions of their students, but they can control the opportunities they provide for students to unsafely gather.
The final straw, for me, was when Penn State announced that there will be no spring break.
Of course, Penn State is not the first university to do this; several other major colleges in the U.S. have cancelled their spring break, but opted for a longer winter break instead. My sister's friend attends Baylor University, and instead of having a spring break, they are having an extended winter break. However, Penn State's winter break is still about one month long, as it has been in previous years. I think it is unfair that Penn State made this decision to cancel our spring break with no consideration for their students in mind. The stresses of college can severely affect a student's mental health, and a week off, even a couple of days, can help relieve those stresses. And if they are adamant about their decision, they could at least extend winter break by a couple of weeks.
When I accepted my admissions offer to Penn State last December, I was so excited to be a part of the Penn State family. However, it feels as though the university is that one family member or friend who says they are here for you but end up endorsing their own interests.
So, please, Penn State: reconsider your decision and make your students feel like they are worth more than their tuition payments.
