What Do Students Want?

I would have assumed that students would have been disappointed in the return to online instruction. Berkeley students didn't start until January 18, but that campus eventually joined most others in staying online until the end of January. However, the Daily Cal carries an article suggesting that some students (a few? many?) are nervous about returning to in-person instruction in February:

...UC Berkeley, UC Riverside and UC Santa Barbara were the last three of nine UC campuses with undergraduate students to announce a virtual start after winter break. Campus’s announcement came after students pushed for a remote start, including campus junior Xuejie Zhang, who created a petition urging campus to “stand up for students’ safety.”

The petition, which garnered more than 500 signatures, called for campus to offer at least two weeks of remote instruction and to switch courses with more than 50 students to a remote format until COVID-19 cases went back down.

“I’d really love to have in-person instruction,” Zhang said. “I was admitted during the pandemic and didn’t really have a chance to experience college. But I’m really concerned about our safety and health.”

Zhang added that she has a history of lung problems, which often flare up when she’s stressed. She often experiences symptoms that seem like COVID-19 — such as coughing and shortage of breath.

For Zhang, the decision to allow larger classes to remain in person starting Jan. 31 has led to concern and fear.

“(In lecture halls,) the seats are really near each other, and I’m really concerned, especially after winter break, when people have been traveling around,” Zhang said. “Lots of my friends have tested positive, and to be honest, I’m scared even now.” ...

Full story at https://www.dailycal.org/2022/01/12/a-half-measure-uc-berkeley-students-respond-to-campuss-spring-plans/.