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Students are suing FIU after the university charged its students for amenities and services that were unavailable during the pandemic.
Our university took advantage of us while we were at our most vulnerable. Instead of choosing to stand with its students during that terrifying and confusing year, they chose to charge us and pocket the funds.
In 2020, FIU shifted over to remote classes to prevent the spread of COVID-19. While students were forced to stay off campus, FIU charged them for services that weren’t available like transportation, parking and athletics. Now, the university faces a class-action lawsuit.
FIU is not the only university facing a potential suit.
The lawyer representing the plaintiffs is also representing students at 11 other Florida universities filing similar lawsuits.
FIU filed a motion to dismiss it, but a judge decided to proceed with the suit in December. FIU will decide whether to settle or go to trial.
FIU needs to refund its students. Students were forced to pay fees to maintain enrollment. We paid for something the university knew we couldn’t use. If our university wants to show us it cares, it will do the right thing.
We aren’t mad because our school charged us money. It’s no secret that university life comes at a price. We’re angry because we were charged for the services we couldn’t possibly use.
Our university needs to give us a reason to be proud to be panthers before its legacy becomes tainted with the infamy of how it treats its students and staff, and its usage of the money we provide them.
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