UMass Amherst parents fight students' suspension from school over off-campus face coverings
Share
Updated: 10:38 PM EDT May 7, 2021
UMass Amherst parents fight students' suspension from school over off-campus face coverings
Share
Updated: 10:38 PM EDT May 7, 2021
Hide Transcript
TRACKING THE COVID-19 VACCINE
Share
Updated: 10:38 PM EDT May 7, 2021
The family of at least two UMass Amherst students are fighting back after they say the school kicked the students out of school this spring, after a photo of them without a face covering off-campus surfaced. The family says three female UMass Amherst freshmen, all honors students, attended an off-campus party in March. A photo of the three not wearing masks was posted on Instagram. "They took a picture off-campus on a Saturday and got thrown out of school," one of the parents of the students removed from the school said. The families declined using their last names for the story, fearing it will hurt their daughter's chances when applying to other schools. According to family, all three of the students were immediately moved out of on-campus housing and had to move home and attend class remotely while they appealed their case. According to the parents, once word came down that they lost the appeals, all three girls were immediately kicked out of school entirely, forfeiting the entire semester and $16,000 tuition paid, which they say the school will not refund. "These beautiful young ladies who are honors students have had a full academic year stripped away and their paths broken of their higher education for alleged COVID violations," the parent says. The university did not comment specifically about these cases but shared a lengthy statement with WCVB documenting the school's communications with students, faculty and staff. "Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the public health and safety of the UMass Amherst community has been the university’s foremost priority," the university said. "Expectations regarding students’ responsibility to follow public health protocols, and the consequences for failing to do so, were clearly communicated to students before and throughout the spring semester, and students were updated regularly as conditions changed.""When positive COVID-19 cases surged within the UMass community in February 2021, the university, in consultation with the state Department of Public Health, promptly imposed severe restrictions on campus activities, including the suspension of in-person classes and a prohibition on student social gatherings," the university said. "It was made clear to students that those who failed to comply would be subject to discipline, including suspension. "The university said a February 7 campus-wide message directed all students, whether residing in campus residence halls or in off-campus housing in the surrounding area, were directed to stay home, except to get meals, undergo twice-weekly COVID testing, or to attend medical appointments.” A message on March 8 from Brandi Hephner LaBanc, the vice chancellor for student affairs and campus life, spoke about "egregious violations of policy" involving hundreds of students in off-campus gatherings. "All students involved will have their appropriate due process, but under no circumstances will they continue as a university student in the interim," LaBanc wrote in the message. One of the parents of the girls points to the university's violation of rules in place. On April 11, the school welcomes back to campus the men's ice hockey team, winners of the 2021 National Championship. "The university hosted a parade/event to celebrate the UMass hockey team's national championship win, violating every single one of violations they accuse these girls of," the parent says. "It also violated a standing executive order by Gov. Charlie Baker that says, 'no parades, no festivals.'"With no recourse, the families say they are putting together a class-action lawsuit against the university, with support from their state senator. "University of Massachusetts Amherst, by suspending them, that is a cost to these families of $16,000," Barry Finegold says. "That is a huge, hefty penalty for not wearing a mask." As for UMass, the parent, an alum of the school, has this message for prospective students and parents. "Really rethink sending your students to the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, not Lowell, at Amherst, because why not your kid."