Students Hope for Online Exams as Covid Cases Rise in the Area

This year's X-Ring Ceremony sure was a memorable one, an email sent by the University reported 12 positive Covid-19 cases and are anticipating more. Students are now advocating that StFX moves exams online to keep both students and the community safe.

Last night, an online petition started by Marie-Anne Sergent has over 3000 signatures in support of changing examinations to online. Marie said she began this petition because she heard that many students were concerned about the outbreak and that most students shared the same opinion. She was amazed by the amount of support the petition got, with 3000 signatures in under 24 hours. Not only are students signing petitions, but faculty are too. Students have been reaching out to Marie through DMs, thanking her for speaking out. She says she is happy the Student Union has now shown their support, it shows they care and are doing their jobs. Ultimately, it could alter the StFX’s decision. Marie says the school has not yet reached out to her regarding the petition.

I also talked to Jack Irvin, the President of the Student Union about the Student’s Unions decision to support exams moving online. Jack says, The Students Union is for student advocacy and from what they have heard students want exams online. Last night the Students Union sent out a ‘Covid-19 Student Mental Health Wellness Survey,’ to hear students’ opinions. Overnight more than 800 students took the survey expressing their anxiety and stress about in-person exams. Students also said they believe that in-person exams would impact their academic performance. Jack noted that the petition made it clear to them that students want online exams. The President said he has met with different people from the University, and they are weighing many different things when it comes to making their decision, Jack is unsure what is going to happen at the moment.

It is not yet known if StFX will move examinations online, but with exams beginning tomorrow we can expect a choice from the University soon. We can only hope StFX empathizes with their students.

Photo from theU- StFX Student Union Instagram page