Letter to the Editor: Student petition demands compensation for online courses

To the Editor:

I would like to bring your attention to a recent petition that has been amassing traction from Miami University students. Nearly 800 students have signed this petition demanding that Miami University fairly compensate students for the move toward online courses.  

Many students and their families have gone through extensive economic hardships because of COVID-19 and therefore cannot afford to keep paying Miami’s high price tag. 

Though Miami has previously refunded students’ room and board payments, those of us that live in off-campus housing received little to nothing in the spring after being sent home two months early without access to the facilities, technologies and in-person courses we were paying tens of thousands of dollars a semester for.  

As of (July 27), Miami refunded students a mere $750 for the one-month delay of in-person classes (during the fall semester), barely scratching the surface of their $17,000 out-of-state tuition.

Please help Miami students in their mission to have their voices heard. This is an important endeavor for economic justice and an evaluation of the values of higher education in this country.

Thank you,

Hannah Hudnall
Miami University Class of 2021