PLEASE READ OUR UPDATE WITH REGARDS TO THE UNIVERSITIES RESPONSE.

To Whom It May Concern,

At approximately 04:00 PM EDT, March 16th, 2020, NYU President Andrew Hamilton sent an email notifying roughly 12,000 students residing within NYU Residence Halls that housing would be closed for the remainder of the semester and that residents should make every effort to move out by March 22nd at the latest. This was done without any notice to any of the groups that represent or work for NYU Residents, including, but not limited to: the Inter-Residence Hall Council (IRHC) and the Resident Assistant Council. We as student leaders were informed by high ranking members of the NYU Administration as recently as March 12th, 2020 that the Residence Halls would not be closing; this information was then passed on to the residents we represent the following day.

As such, the new policies that are contrary to what we were told are very disappointing, confusing, and were made without student consultation. We recognize that extreme measures and decisions are increasingly common across the nation, but it should be recognized that consulting students about decisions that impact student housing and well-being will logically create better decisions and would prevent a letter (such as this) from being written in the first place. 

NYU should have consulted students over a number of things before sending out such an email, including:

  1. Roughly 27% of NYU residents are international students, which for many has become extraordinarily difficult to return home or return to the United States to move out.
  1. Further, graduating international students who have filed for OPT are required by law to remain within the U.S. while their VISA applications are processed. Any travel outside of the country jeopardizes their VISA status and fear of additional travel restrictions makes leaving the country an even greater risk to their potential future employment in the United States.
  2. In addition to point A, several of these students will have no alternative form of housing if they are evicted from their residence halls. They will have no choice but to stay in the U.S. to avoid the risks in point A and therefore have no guaranteed housing.
  3. In accordance with Andrew Hamilton's suggestion that those with extraordinary circumstances would be granted exemptions, we suggest that such a policy be preemptively applied to ALL international students.
  1. Over 90% of NYU students are not residents of NY State; many students live hundreds, if not thousands, of miles away. Many students will not be able to make the deadline of March 22nd if the current policy stays in place.
  1.  In addition, several students will, like some international students, have nowhere else to go and may not be able to return home for a variety of reasons. Roughly 20% of NYU students receive Pell Grants which is indicative of a large number of low-income students on campus. Any rushed eviction or travel requires a certain level of flexible wealth that many students simply do not have. Costs such as train and airfare tickets, Ubers to move, and gaps in meal plans add up, as well as unnecessary moving costs if students need to move the belongings that are mailed to them back to the city for summer internships. Mailing students their belongings sometime in the future does not mitigate all costs.
  2. We suggest that, as in (1)c, such a policy be preemptively applied to low-income students that may lack a permanent address or the ability to return home.
  1. This week is Spring Break, and at the direction of previous communications by Pres. Andrew Hamilton, many students (including the authors of this letter) purchased expensive plane tickets home.
  1. Similarly, students were notified about remote learning on Thursday, March 12th and elected to return home until, on, or about April 19th, 2020 where they were expecting to return to their NYU residencies.
  2. Many students have also gone home for Spring Break and will remain there for the foreseeable future due to the information we received previously. They will have difficulties coming back to retrieve their belongings.
  1. The CDC is recommending against non-essential travel (as this would be considered), especially to affected states such as New York, California, and Washington State. Requiring students to return to New York City within a 48-hour period to then return home is increasing the risk to their well-being and the possibility of transmitting COVID-19 even further.
  2. Requiring the 12,000 students living in NYU Residence Halls to move their belongings out within the six (6) day period granted would almost certainly lead to the gathering of 10+ people trying to move out simultaneously, which is against President Trump, Governor Cuomo, and the CDC’s recommendation.
  3. It would be prohibitively expensive for a majority of students to return to NYU and move out; while NYU is making efforts to increase emergency aid to affected students, the mental stress of moving and travel is a threat to personal and public health and mental well-being, as well as financially straining.

With the above in mind, please answer the following questions:

With regards to the policy decision

  1. Was this an internal University decision, or has it been mandated by the city, state, or federal government?
  2. If the answer to (1) is that it was a University decision, why did the University not opt to allow students to leave their remaining belongings in the Residence Halls until such a time that they could return and move out properly?
  3. If the answer to (1) is that it was a University decision, why were student representatives reassured on both Tuesday, March 10th and Thursday, March 12th that Residence Halls would remain open for the remainder of the year? [1]
  4. Why were staff members given advance notice to move out?
  5. Furthermore, if the University knew this was going to happen, why did the University wait?
  6. Why are students being given six (6) days’ notice to move out?
  7. What are the requirements for students to be allowed to remain in an NYU residence hall? What factors are in consideration for “extraordinary circumstances”?
  8. Will students who are immune-compromised or at-risk be given any additional support and permitted to remain in NYU residencies?
  9. What further actions will be taken by the University to combat food insecurity for their students if they are planning to close all dining services effective March 22nd, 2020?
  10. Why have none of the University’s policy changes with regards to housing been properly communicated to student representatives?
  11. Why is the University recommending (and to some degree, mandating) students return to the city to pack when, in many cases, it would be more advisable for students to stay put (wherever they are) to reduce the potential for COVID-19’s spread?
  1. If an NYU student or family member potentially contracts COVID-19 due to their return to NYC solely to retrieve their belongings, is there a policy in place for NYU to cover the cost of COVID-19 testing or hospital expenses?
  2. Furthermore, is NYU prepared to face liability and legal action if an NYU student or family member contracts COVID-19 due to the actions requested in this email?
  1. Does the University have the legal authority to
  1. Evict students from housing, given recent rulings/orders by the NYC and NY governments? [2] 
  2. Touch, move and/or handle students’ private, personal items?

With regards to logistics

  1. Will the University pay for, and cover the cost of, shipping students’ belongings? Is there a cap on shipping reimbursements?
  2. Who is liable if a personal item is lost or damaged while students' belongings are packed?
  3. Where will the University ship belongings to if students do not have a permanent address?
  4. When can students expect their belongings to be returned to them?
  5. Does the University actually have the staff or means to pack up and ship the belongings of thousands of residents?
  6. Who would be the ones packing up rooms for residents?
  1. How will those packing the rooms be able to properly differentiate between the belongings of roommates?
  1. When can students expect to receive a number of refunds on housing, meal plans, and tuition? This is especially time-sensitive as many students are hoping to use this refund to make appropriate housing accommodations now that they do not have a residence in New York City.
  2. Will the cost of housing for students who are approved to remain in NYU residencies be prorated if they are moved to a different residence hall?

It is extremely discouraging that the University Administration did not consult with, nor ask for the advice of, actual students whom these policy decisions affect. The message of this letter has been echoed with support from the student body at large, with a petition requesting the University rethink its decision gathering more than 5,000 signatures in less than 12 hours. Further, as the University has issued an expectation for students to move out within 48 hours if possible, we similarly demand a thorough response to this Statement within 24 hours.

On Behalf of the Cosigned,

Jesse Maloney

IRHC President 2019-2020

This letter and its contents are cosigned by the following:

Inter-Residence Hall Council, Executive Council

Chinese Student Society, Executive Board

Class Activities Board, 2020 Executive Board

Class Activities Board, 2021 Executive Board

Coalition of Minority Journalists, Executive Board

College of Arts and Science Student Council, Executive Board

Liberal Studies Student Council, Executive Board

National Residence Hall Honorary, Torch Chapter Executive Board

Plague Magazine, NYU Publication

Public Policy Student Board, Executive Board

School of Global Public Health, Governing Council

School of Professional Studies Undergraduate Student Council, Executive Board

Stern Undergraduate Student Council, Executive Board

Silver Graduate Student Association, Executive Board

Steinhardt Undergraduate Student Government, Executive Board

Student Government Assembly, Executive Committee

Student Government, All University Events Committee

Student Government, Elections Commission

Student Government, Program Board

Resident Assistant Council, General Assembly

Tisch Undergraduate Student Council, Executive Board

Undergraduate Nursing Student Organization, Executive Board