The families of three students from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst who were suspended from the spring semester for attending a party unmasked are planning to sue the school for the $16,000 in tuition that the school kept when they were kicked out of school.
The freshmen were initially suspended after another student sent the March photo of them to the school, according to The Washington Post.
“These beautiful young ladies who are honors students have had a full academic year stripped away and their paths broken of their higher education for alleged COVID violations,” one of the parents of the students told local ABC affiliate WCVB-TV.
“Expectations regarding students’ responsibility to follow public health protocols, and the consequences for failing to do so, were clearly communicated to students before and throughout the spring semester, and students were updated regularly as conditions changed,” the university told the Post in a statement.
However, some observers have accused to the school of having a double-standard for how it implements its COVID-19 policies, noting that some members of its hockey team were seen celebrating unmasked in April after they won the NCAA championship.
The school told the Post it was “regrettable” that some players were unmasked, but argued this celebration took place later in the semester when infection rates were lower.
Also speaking to WCVB-TV, Massachusetts state Sen. Barry Finegold (D) said the punishment against the three students was “huge” when compared to the alleged rule violation.
“University of Massachusetts Amherst, by suspending them, that is a cost to these families of $16,000. That is a huge, hefty penalty for not wearing a mask,” Finegold said.