DREAM advocates for Zoom classes amid mask removal. // Photo courtesy of Lucas Law.
After Hofstra University made masks optional for every facility on campus on Monday, March 7, a Change.org petition was created on Wednesday, March 9, titled “Bring back remote options at Hofstra.”
“By lifting the mask mandates, and [demanding] students attend in-person classes, Hofstra has decided that it is acceptable to risk the health of disabled students to appease the masses and ‘return to normal,’” the petition said in part.
The petition has received 258 signatures since its creation, with many students from the Hofstra community expressing their support. One student who signed it says what Hofstra is doing is not right.
“I signed the petition because making Zoom learning inaccessible for those with disabilities makes it so much harder for people to access an education during this time,” said Alice Patry, a sophomore women’s studies major. “If you take that away from students, then how are people expected to work without putting themselves in danger and their education in jeopardy?”
The university has not made a public statement regarding the petition. However, Karla Schuster, assistant vice president of University Relations, explained why the decision was made.
“We’re committed to in-person learning as the primary mode of instruction. Many studies have shown that in-person instruction is the most effective way for students to learn,” Schuster said. “Also, the experience of our own students and faculty back that up. Based on what they told us, there are fewer distractions, there’s increased concentration, more collaboration [and] a stronger bond between the professor and the students and among the classmates.”
The lack of response from the university has made many students feel unheard. Kadaline Jackel, a senior psychology major, creator of the petition and president of Disability Rights, Education, Activism and Mentorship (DREAM), believes that what the petition is requesting is something that Hofstra can easily do.
“We do acknowledge that not every class can give remote options such as labs or music classes, but [for] just strictly lecture classes, we do know that Hofstra does have the technology to do that,” Jackel said. “They spent 18 months using that technology, so we figured we have the technology and we already have been accommodating these students, so why go back on accommodations now?”
While many university administrators agree that remote learning does not compare to the engagement of a classroom in-person, some agree with Jackel. Director of Student Access Services, Julie Yindra, explains that students with invisible and physical disabilities could benefit from this option.
“Remote learning can also be a good solution for students who may, from time to time, be unable to attend class for specific periods of time due to what we often call chronic or episodic conditions,” Yindra said.
One student who signed the petition and is a member of DREAM shares how remote learning would be convenient for her success as a student.
“I’m actually on medication that when I take it, I basically am sedated and I kind of fall asleep, so if I have to take that before class or something – I’m not able to come into a classroom like that,” said Bianca St. Onge, a sophomore psychology major. “Having that online option would at least have helped me [by] being able to at least try to be in that classroom setting but obviously not falling asleep in the middle of the classroom.”
Jackel had met with President Susan Poser to discuss the optional mask mandate before making the petition. She and the vice president of DREAM attended the Student Government Association senate meeting on Thursday, Feb. 10, to explain that remote learning can help other students with disabilities who are not immunocompromised. On another occasion, St. Onge claimed that after submitting a letter, it was dismissed.
Jackel did not appreciate the responses Poser gave regarding both incidents.
“That didn’t sit right with me because it’s not just her, but the administration in its entirety, [who] is not focusing this conversation on disabled students. They’re kind of just making the policies and then telling us to advocate for and accommodate ourselves rather than the university kind of working our needs into their plans,” Jackel said. “So after that meeting, I emailed her [and I] didn’t really see much in her follow up.”
The university has not revealed their plans for next semester. However, Schuster says the university does have enough experience with COVID-19 now.
“We have to be nimble; we have to be ready to evolve and change quickly as conditions change. So with that said, and understanding that we are prepared to make whatever adjustments may be necessary as time goes on, right now, what we’re doing is working with Northwell Health,” Schuster said. “We will do what we’ve always done, which is follow the science, and if the science and the advice from our partners at Northwell Health indicate that we need to make adjustments to our protocols, [we] will do that.”
In addition, Schuster says that the university is committed to everyone’s individual comfort and that students, faculty and staff should respect people who choose to mask or not. Jackel, however, is still advocating for change.
“I don’t want to burn any bridges, but they already were able to accommodate us before, so kind of just forcing us to come back in-person and not give us any alternatives, it’s not conducive to a good education,” Jackel said.
