REPORT: Three UMass students suspended after taking photo outdoors without masks
The University of Massachusetts-Amherst suspended three freshmen after the administration obtained a photo of the students not wearing masks while outdoors.
Local news reports that the school hockey team’s members did not receive sanctions after they were filmed without masks while celebrating their national championship win.
The University of Massachusetts Amherst reportedly suspended three students for taking a photo without masks while outdoors.
As CBS Boston reports, three freshmen girls were sent home to learn virtually for the rest of the spring semester after the administration received a photo of the maskless students at an off-campus, outdoor event. The students were reportedly later cut off from virtual learning and were not able to take their finals, rendering their spring semester a financial and academic loss.
UMass-Amherst charges $18,213.50 and $8,219.50 per semester for out-of-state and in-state tuition, respectively.
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“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,” remarked one of the students’ mothers to CBS Boston.
“She was valedictorian and class president of her high school,” commented the father of another student. “She did everything right.”
CBS Boston also cited a video showing the UMass-Amherst hockey team celebrating their national championship victory. In the footage, students and hockey team members are shown without masks and in close proximity, with some students exchanging high-fives.
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“I just want the university administration to be equitable and fair,” continued the father.
According to a statement from UMass-Amherst provided to CBS Boston, “students received a number of public health messages this semester that emphasized the importance of following public health protocols and the consequences for not complying, and those messages were also shared on UMass social media channels.”
Campus Reform reached out to UMass Amherst for comment; this article will be updated accordingly.
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