Three college freshmen were suspended from the University of Massachusetts Amherst after a photo of them at an off-campus party without face masks was discovered by administrators.
The students attended an off-campus party in March, and a group photo was posted on Instagram. After the image made its way to the administration, the students were suspended and forced to move out of on-campus housing. The students attended remote classes from their parents’ homes until their appeal was denied.
“There was a photo sent to the administration of these girls outside off-campus on a Saturday. This is why they lost a whole semester of their schooling,” parents Kristin and Scott told CBS Boston.
The families of the students requested that their last names be withheld in fear that their public comments may negatively affect their daughters’ applications to other universities.
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“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,” Scott told WCVB.
The university did not refund the $16,000 of tuition that the students paid for the semester. Unable to complete their courses because of the suspension, the three women will lose credit for their classes.
State Sen. Barry Finegold called the sanction “huge” in relation to the alleged rule violation.
“University of Massachusetts Amherst, by suspending them, that is a cost to these families of $16,000. That is a huge, hefty penalty for not wearing a mask,” he said.
Their parents were outraged by the university’s actions and highlighted what they viewed as a double standard of allowing a parade for the school’s hockey team after it won the NCAA 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,” Scott told WCVB. “It also violated a standing executive order by Gov. Charlie Baker that says, ‘No parades, no festivals.'”
The state university did not directly address the situation faced by these three students but said in a statement that undergraduates were warned about the consequences of not abiding by the school’s COVID-19 policies.
“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 of Massachusetts Amherst did not immediately respond to the Washington Examiner’s request for comment.
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The families of two of the suspended students said they plan to take legal action against the university over the suspension. Scott warned prospective parents to reconsider their child’s enrollment at the school.
“Really rethink sending your students to the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, not Lowell, at Amherst, because why not your kid?” he said.
