We share the frustration and sadness many students feel in having their school year cut short. While it was necessary for students to leave campus, we believe that there are countless ways in which the ASSU can support Stanford students, service workers, and post-docs. We realize that the FLI community has been disproportionately affected by these changes, along with students who have found a community on campus that does not exist at home. In response to our former statement, Martin has worked closely with FLIP and Row staff in the efforts to create a mutual aid fund available to Stanford students. In particular, Martin and Jennalei have worked with administration to clarify the Cardinal Care co-pay systems, and how surprise expenses can be mitigated through financial aid.
We have never been faced with a challenge like COVID-19. Our first goal as Exec will be to centralize the amazing advocacy efforts of students to ensure each project builds on existing work if applicable. This starts with understanding the key issues on campus. Martin and Jennalei have been engaging with FLIP, the Stanford Mutual Aid Fund, and the Stanford Solidarity Network throughout this month. The ASSU Exec can communicate with every Stanford student, and we plan on using this avenue to bridge student needs and advocacy efforts across Stanford.
With a postponed election, we understand much of our work as Exec will focus on the long-term assistance needed by students. Key questions we will ask the administration will include how the Financial Aid Office will re-evaluate aid if one’s parent's become unemployed, how online learning can be optimized, and how Stanford can continue its tradition of an in-person commencement ceremony.
Our Immediate Plan of Action We recognize this has been a tough year for Stanford students. And the reality is that an on-campus Stanford may not be possible during fall quarter. Regardless, COVID-19 will continue to impact the lives of many Stanford students during the 2020-2021 school year.
While we will begin our terms at inopportune times, both of us have flexible summer plans. We will devote nearly our whole summer to hitting the ground running during fall quarter, along with expressing the needs of the student body to administration. Here are the first things we will do as both new executives and representatives of a student body in response to COVID-19.
Continuance of Pay for Contracted Workers Continue pushing, on behalf of the student body, for Stanford to pay contracted workers. While many of Stanford’s projects push the limits of its endowment, paying contracted workers this quarter would not. A source of income is essential for contracted workers, and filing for unemployment or other sources of assistance is often not an option.
Communication of Administrative Decisions Communicate the decisions of Stanford administration during the summer quarter. It can be difficult for both students and student media to report the decisions Stanford makes when they are not only off campus, but engaging in internships and other opportunities. We believe that Exec’s responsibility is to not only represent the student body, but also to serve as a liaison between administration and students. Exec is a full time, year-round job. We realize this fully, and will continually work on behalf of students throughout this summer.
Student Input Incorporate student input into decisions impacting the student body. This quarter has left us with questions including what rush and co-op crawl will look like, how commencement will be impacted, what will VSO funding look like, and how will essential Stanford traditions continue. Since these decisions impact the student body deeply, students need to be a part of these conversations. In addition to our existing relationship with students through the Senate, we have established connections with leaders of community centers, greek life, co-ops, and VSO presidents while creating our platform. We believe these students should be a part of the decision making process, and will call on administration to include their input.
Revisiting Cardinal Care Health care is a human right now more than ever. Administration and Vaden need to be more transparent with Cardinal Care and how it is currently affected by many students being unable to access Stanford hospital and Vaden. This also applies to the Financial Aid Office and how they are accommodating the increased medical expenses many students are facing off-campus. From this, we hope that students will not be detracted from medical care because of Stanford’s inconsistent communication.