A new memorandum of understanding has been finalized at StFX.
Some students and community members raised concerns when university officials introduced a liability waiver as part of their return-to-campus plan; it protects them against legal action in the event of COVID-19 illness or death.
University officials held a series of town hall events with students recently; reps with both sides signed off on the agreement Sunday.
Sarah Elliott, the president of the StFX Students’ Union, tells The Hawk the MOU helps address the concerns raised by presenting both university and student responsibilities in one package.
“Instead of the very long, different campus plans and community guidelines, we wanted a very condensed version that students could easily digest and understand what exactly they’re signing up for.”
Elliott says not everyone is happy, but that was never going to happen.
She says she feels the concerns of students were heard overall.
“Both the university and the (StFX) Students’ Union did a comprehensive job in student consultation,” she says. “Basically, everything that we wanted to see in the MOU was able to be provided in the MOU, and that’s really exciting.”
Elliott says the MOU doesn’t replace the waiver, which students are required to sign before they can return to campus in September.
She says it puts all the information students need in one place, so they know what they’re agreeing to before they sign the waiver.
