<div><p dir="ltr" style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;word-spacing:1px;line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:0.9166666865348816rem;font-family:Arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Good evening undergrads,</span></p><br style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;word-spacing:1px"><p dir="ltr" style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;word-spacing:1px;line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:0.9166666865348816rem;font-family:Arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">The UA officers empathize with the stress and sadness you may be feeling as a result of MIT’s response to COVID-19. Some of us are graduating seniors. Some of us are struggling to find places to live. We understand how distressing the last two days have been. The faculty are also with us on this; many of them are heartbroken, and they are doing their best to provide the best educational experience for us. </span></p><br style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;word-spacing:1px"><p dir="ltr" style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;word-spacing:1px;line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:0.9166666865348816rem;font-family:Arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">We are doing our best to source your questions and get answers from the relevant parts of MIT. We are meeting with members of the administration and other student leaders frequently to get up-to-date information and feedback on these pressing matters and provide an undergraduate voice in the Institute’s response.</span></p><br style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;word-spacing:1px"><p dir="ltr" style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;word-spacing:1px;line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:0.9166666865348816rem;font-family:Arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">We wanted to follow up on a few points of concern and confusion after President Reif’s letters and the recent communication from the Chancellor — both of which can be found </span><a href="http://web.mit.edu/covid19/updates/" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:0.9166666865348816rem;font-family:Arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;text-decoration-line:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">here</span></a><span style="font-size:0.9166666865348816rem;font-family:Arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">. Please read these if you have not already.</span></p><br style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;word-spacing:1px"><p dir="ltr" style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;word-spacing:1px;line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:0.9166666865348816rem;font-family:Arial;font-weight:700;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">If you are</span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> </span><span style="font-size:0.9166666865348816rem;font-family:Arial;font-weight:700;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">not able to leave campus by Tuesday:</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;word-spacing:1px;line-height:1.38;margin-left:36pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:0.9166666865348816rem;font-family:Arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Please fill out the exception request form, which can be found </span><a href="https://mit.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_37pzxw9wClZS4Zf" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:0.9166666865348816rem;font-family:Arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;text-decoration-line:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">here</span></a><span style="font-size:0.9166666865348816rem;font-family:Arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">. This includes</span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;font-style:italic;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> </span><span style="font-size:0.9166666865348816rem;font-family:Arial;font-weight:700;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">cases in which you may need to extend your stay by just a few days</span><span style="font-size:0.9166666865348816rem;font-family:Arial;font-style:italic;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">, </span><span style="font-size:0.9166666865348816rem;font-family:Arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">such as difficulties in arranging travel. The Division of Student Life is doing its best to respond to each of these requests within 24 hours of submission. The same </span><a href="https://mit.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_37pzxw9wClZS4Zf" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:0.9166666865348816rem;font-family:Arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;text-decoration-line:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">form</span></a><span style="font-size:0.9166666865348816rem;font-family:Arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> can also be used for full exception requests and financial support requests. </span><span style="font-size:0.9166666865348816rem;font-family:Arial;font-style:italic;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">If you are unsure if you qualify for an exception, we recommend you fill it out.</span></p><br style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;word-spacing:1px"><p dir="ltr" style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;word-spacing:1px;line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:0.9166666865348816rem;font-family:Arial;font-weight:700;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">If your professors are not accommodating with attendance or course requirements</span><span style="font-size:0.9166666865348816rem;font-family:Arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">:</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;word-spacing:1px;line-height:1.38;margin-left:36pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:0.9166666865348816rem;font-family:Arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Please let us know </span><a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfrdXt-IYJXRTSoKjc8bRDSVJpQykvwpqWe6vMApSiSM7n9RQ/viewform?usp=sf_link" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:0.9166666865348816rem;font-family:Arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;text-decoration-line:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">here</span></a><span style="font-size:0.9166666865348816rem;font-family:Arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">. We are in discussions with the faculty officers to clarify academic policies and provide increased flexibility to students.</span></p><br style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;word-spacing:1px"><p dir="ltr" style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;word-spacing:1px;line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:0.9166666865348816rem;font-family:Arial;font-weight:700;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">If you are the</span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> </span><span style="font-size:0.9166666865348816rem;font-family:Arial;font-weight:700;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">leader of a student organization or living group</span><span style="font-size:0.9166666865348816rem;font-family:Arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">:</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;word-spacing:1px;line-height:1.38;margin-left:36pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:0.9166666865348816rem;font-family:Arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">We are soliciting funds that have been allocated to student groups, which may now be going unused. We are coordinating with DSL to transfer those funds, along with a large majority of the UA budget, to MIT’s </span><a href="https://studentlife.mit.edu/arm" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:0.9166666865348816rem;font-family:Arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;text-decoration-line:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">ARM Coalition</span></a><span style="font-size:0.9166666865348816rem;font-family:Arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> to assist with emergency assistance for students. If you are interested in participating, please let us know </span><a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfW6fdl6x1xpTGP9LCei_tm9QsB9gT0BJlTN7hVgO9C-_qJOA/viewform?usp=sf_link" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:0.9166666865348816rem;font-family:Arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;text-decoration-line:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">here</span></a><span style="font-size:0.9166666865348816rem;font-family:Arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">. This money goes directly towards assisting students — we have already received several commitments totaling to more than $100,000, most of which is from the </span><a href="http://ua.mit.edu/financial-board" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:0.9166666865348816rem;font-family:Arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;text-decoration-line:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">UA Finboard spring allocation cycle</span></a><span style="font-size:0.9166666865348816rem;font-family:Arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">.</span></p><br style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;word-spacing:1px"><p dir="ltr" style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;word-spacing:1px;line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:0.9166666865348816rem;font-family:Arial;font-weight:700;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">If you have any questions regarding policy changes given MIT’s response to COVID-19</span><span style="font-size:0.9166666865348816rem;font-family:Arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">:</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;word-spacing:1px;line-height:1.38;margin-left:36pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:0.9166666865348816rem;font-family:Arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Please do not hesitate to submit them </span><a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSexoBPNDMAO82rdIa-Gdg7Dbt_zfiTeSaKELwAOiRB8EEBVXg/viewform?usp=sf_link" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:0.9166666865348816rem;font-family:Arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;text-decoration-line:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">here</span></a><span style="font-size:0.9166666865348816rem;font-family:Arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">. We will be discussing these questions with members of the administration and will get answers to you each as soon as possible, either through MIT’s </span><a href="http://mit.edu/covid19/" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:0.9166666865348816rem;font-family:Arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;text-decoration-line:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">FAQ & updates page</span></a><span style="font-size:0.9166666865348816rem;font-family:Arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> or separate communications.</span></p><br style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;word-spacing:1px"><p dir="ltr" style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;word-spacing:1px;line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:0.9166666865348816rem;font-family:Arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">We hope this answers some questions you have, and we are striving to be a resource for you all in this tumultuous time. Again, please don’t hesitate to reach out with questions </span><a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSexoBPNDMAO82rdIa-Gdg7Dbt_zfiTeSaKELwAOiRB8EEBVXg/viewform?usp=sf_link" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:0.9166666865348816rem;font-family:Arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;text-decoration-line:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">here</span></a><span style="font-size:0.9166666865348816rem;font-family:Arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">.</span></p><br style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;word-spacing:1px"><p dir="ltr" style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;word-spacing:1px;line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:0.9166666865348816rem;font-family:Arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Warm regards,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;word-spacing:1px;line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:0.9166666865348816rem;font-family:Arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Mahi Elango</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;word-spacing:1px;line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:0.9166666865348816rem;font-family:Arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">UA President</span></p><br>
</div>-- <br><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><font color="#666666"><span style="font-size:12.8px">Mahalaxmi Elango</span><br></font></div><font color="#666666">Massachusetts Institute of Technology | 2020<br>President of the Undergraduate Association</font><br></div></div></div></div></div>