A student uproar was raised against Florida State University (FSU) after classes were scheduled to resume normally on Monday, April 21, only days after the campus mass shooting that left two dead and six injured. FSU, however, decided to lift the attendance mandate following the backlash, allowing students to attend classes remotely and excusing their absences.
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This announcement was made by FSU President Richard McCullough via a letter to students and faculty. In the letter, McCullough stated that FSU understood the "difficult time" that everyone was going through. He then mentioned the "complex and challenging issues" the university faced in recent days following the shooting, thanking everyone for their patience. Then, he announced the attendance changes.
"We want everyone to receive the support and help they need," McCullough wrote. "For some students that may mean not going back into the classroom. For others, the idea of community and gathering, as well as the opportunity to focus on academics, may be beneficial. There is no single right answer for everyone. "
McCullough confirmed that on-campus classes were to resume on Monday, April 21, but that remote options were going to be made available. He clarified that some of these classes, due to their nature (such as lab classes), won't have an online option.
Furthermore, McCullough waived "all mandatory attendance policies" during this week, meaning that students will not have their grades affected. All absences will be excused by FSU, with students required to contact their instructor to complete their required coursework. Moreover, should any student feel that they can't complete a course in time, they can request an incomplete grade.
Student Petition
Initially, FSU announced that classes were set to resume on Monday, April 21, with mandatory attendance included. This outraged students, who felt that just a few days were not enough to process the traumatic events they endured. Therefore, almost 1,500 students signed a petition to excuse all absences "for the week of April 21st-25th."
"It is not okay to be asking students, who just experienced such a traumatic moment, to return right back to where it happened so soon," the petition read.
In an update, the petition, started by Celina Westerberg, thanked Richard McCullough after he waived the mandatory attendance policies, and remote options were made available.
On Thursday, April 17, Phoenix Ikner allegedly entered the FSU campus and carried out a mass shooting. Two people were killed and six others were injured. He was shot by police officers and will be charged following his recovery.
