The president of the students’ union at StFX University in Nova Scotia says students were surprised by the university’s controversial waiver.
The waiver releases officials with the Antigonish university from liability in the event of student injury or death as a result of COVID-19.
Sarah Elliott, the union’s president, says it garnered a mixed response from students.
“A lot of students felt very grateful that they were going to have the opportunity to learn in-person, and they accept that (there) is still a risk,” she says. “A lot of other people felt like StFX wouldn’t be holding themselves accountable to look after the students.”
Elliott says complex legal language in the document created even more concern and confusion.
She says that led to union reps working with their university counterparts to develop a memorandum of understanding.
“(It’s) outlining everything that the university’s going to do to keep students safe,” she says. “(It’s) everything that the students’ union is going to do to keep people safe, and what the students are expected to do to keep everyone safe.”
Elliott says they’re advocating to have the MOU replace the waiver, but a spokesperson for the university says it will not.
