***CLARIFICATION OF PURPOSE OF PETITION***

The following is in response to some questions that students have presented about the purpose of the petition – it in no way changes the terms of the petition. The petition stands for CHOICE. It does not stand for forcing students who do not feel comfortable to return.

The petition simply requests that everyone have the option to decide for themselves whether he/she/they returns to campus in the fall. Individuals’ are best suited to determine whether they are comfortable with or should be in-person for the fall semester. All individual feelings and opinions about the topic are respected and valid. If returning is not permitted, and class remains online, then this petition seeks a tuition reduction.

To the faculty and administrators of the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law:

The following petition was written on behalf of the students who have signed below. Those who have signed hereby demand that the law school hold in-person classes for the Fall 2020 term. When it was decided that classes would be held online for the remainder of the Winter 2020 term, students were told that the closure of the building was to “flatten the curve.” The goal of flattening the curve was to protect our healthcare system from becoming over ran, and allow the healthcare system to prepare to operate at a higher capacity.

By the time the Fall 2020 Term begins, it will have been roughly 170 days – that is nearly half of the year. Despite this, the school and administration are still heavily considering a fully online education for the Fall 2020 Term. The students have complied with the school’s policies and regulations thus far, but we the students are now demanding the full value of the education that we pay for. As of May, the State of Michigan has started the process of re-opening in compliance with the CDC guidelines. Additionally, there is no indication of when or if there will ever be a vaccine or cure. Suspending in-person classes until the safety of a vaccine or a cure is obtained is detrimental not only to the education of students currently enrolled, but also to the future success of the law school.

Students who have signed this petition vow to:

• Follow all regulations set forth by the CDC;
• Follow all regulations set forth by the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law; and
• Not hold the law school liable if they, the signee, become ill with COVID-19.

As future advocates of others, we find it important be advocate on our own behalves. A legal education administered completely online falls gravely short of its in-person counterpart. The value of in-person interactions between classmates and professors is impossible to recreate through technology.

Our first and true request is to return to the classrooms in the fall, but if the school fails to reopen, and offer anything other than an in-person education, students demand a 50% cut in their tuition. Despite the valiant efforts of the professors at Detroit Mercy Law, an online-only education fails to supply students with the full value of a $44,000 per year education.