We, the International Students at Indiana University Bloomington who are currently living at on-campus residence halls and apartments, are devastated and upset to be given a short notice that most of the on-campus housing will be closed as of March 20, yet we are not certain when we are able to come back. This is especially difficult for those who live with family members and young children. We appreciate the university’s concern over and commitment to protecting the overall health of the IU community.

However, many of us are from coronavirus-stricken countries/regions that are on the U.S. CDC travel restrictions list. Neither do we have immediate access to local housing that can ensure high levels of hygiene and disinfection over the COVID-19 situation, nor are we confident in going back to our homeland that is already in this overwhelming plague.

While the university is working hard to shape up a move-out policy and a petition avenue, we are uncertain what those top-down options will be available to us. We, hereby, are proactively calling on the Indiana University Residential Programs and Services (RPS) to consider and address our following questions and concerns: