WSU students need more mental health resources, not sympathy from administration

PULLMAN, WASH – The transition to online learning has made life different for everyone. One of the hardest hit demographics is the mentally ill. With school already exacerbating mental illness, the transition to online learning has added a whole new challenge without any discernible margin for error in the transition.

People like Shaya Jordan were hit disproportionately hard by this transition. With a strict four timeline to get her degree, quitting was not an option. However with frustrating family dynamics at home, and a damaged economy that made supporting herself financially harder than ever, things got even harder.

When she faced technical difficulties, her professors did not give any leeway. Her professors did not see the transition to online learning as an obstacle even as her only computer broke with no way to get a new one in time to get her assignments in. 

As a response to these issues WSU has sent students letters of support, but not many changes in curriculum to help students adjust, or any additional mental health resources during these trying times.

Students like Shaya are speaking out, and looking for more support from their university such as pass/fail grades, amidst this pandemic.