Students Address their Fall Semester Concerns at the First Town Hall Meeting

By Chelsey Jaipersaud| Published by November 23, 2020

President Repollet held the first Town Hall meeting inviting students to share their perspective on the Fall semester. Kean students prepared some words in regards to issues that have yet to be addressed, along with possible solutions to their concerns.

Students registered in advance to either speak at the event or simply attend and listen to each other. Students of any year were encouraged to speak up in order to acknowledge prevalent issues that occurred throughout the semester and ultimately make adjustments for the future.

“This is going to be realistic, I am going to make sure that things that I say or deliver will be based on our policies, regulations, on the law and what we normally do as a university,” Dr. Repollet said.

To remain transparent with the students’, context of what was discussed, some possible solutions and some rationale to why something can or can not be done will be posted on the university website by the Vice President of University Relations.

Dr. Repollet promised to take students’ concerns seriously and asked them to partner with the university as a collaborative approach.

“By telling the students to go outside, you’re putting us at a greater risk. In regards to one or two students allowed into a room with each other,” senior Symone Gelay said. “I don’t see an issue in that being raised, especially since we are tested every week”.

Students were told to go outside, but the weather is dropping in temperature and the public has not been prevented from coming onto the campus, she said. She further addressed how being able to see and spend time with one or two people will improve the mental health of many students.

In response, Dr. Repollet recognized the mental health of the students and how social isolation is gripping the nation.

“I’m never going to apologize for setting up rules and regulations to protect you, I’m always going to look at ways to lessen it because we have been doing a great job,” Dr. Repollet said.

Dr. Repollet said within the building, they are thinking about the spring semester, however there are unknown variables. There are students going off campus because they have to go to work and it is encouraged, but when they come back they are expected to isolate because they want to avoid the spread of the virus within the dorms.

Desirae Diaz, a sophomore at Kean University, spoke on the required discussion questions, explaining how they take up too much time and being treated like extra papers rather than the intended goal.

“Discussion questions should have all the same requirements, not have one class only require three replies and one class require six all over multiple days, have it be more of a group chat feel where you’re actually discussing things,” Diaz said.

Diaz suggested that discussion questions should have all the same requirements to avoid confusion and an overwhelming workload. She further suggested having two or three discussion questions throughout the semester and worth more than participation points since a decent amount is written for each post.

“This is the first time I’ve heard someone give that solution and this something I’m going to bring up,” Dr. Repollet said.

Dr. Repollet liked the idea of having two or three thoughtful discussion questions throughout the semester and informed viewers to look on the website for responses to these concerns that will be posted shortly.

Dr. Repollet will be making decisions very soon and there will be updates following another Town Hall meeting next semester.

“I think there are some action items that we can actually address and maybe see if we can  make something tangible happen as a result of this. I want to let you know that I am listening to you,” Dr. Repollet said.

 

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