SJU student filed lawsuit over online classes

St. John's is recieving millions of dollars to remedy this situation from the federal government so this suit is a bit premature.
 
Less then half a semester out of 4 years is hardly an "on-line education". So this kid and his opportunistic lawyer(plenty of them out there) are seeking 5 Mil for that? The entitled generation at it again, and the enabling parents supporting them. Good luck kid, can't wait for you to find out how unfair life can really be if and when you ever move out of Mommy and Daddy's basement
 
[quote="Monte" post=387892]Less then half a semester out of 4 years is hardly an "on-line education". So this kid and his opportunistic lawyer(plenty of them out there) are seeking 5 Mil for that? The entitled generation at it again, and the enabling parents supporting them. Good luck kid, can't wait for you to find out how unfair life can really be if and when you ever move out of Mommy and Daddy's basement[/quote]

I’m sorry, but I strongly disagree. Many of these schools have enormous endowments and are charging upwards of $50k a year for on-line classes. It’s obscene.
 
[quote="Boo Harvey" post=387894][quote="Monte" post=387892]Less then half a semester out of 4 years is hardly an "on-line education". So this kid and his opportunistic lawyer(plenty of them out there) are seeking 5 Mil for that? The entitled generation at it again, and the enabling parents supporting them. Good luck kid, can't wait for you to find out how unfair life can really be if and when you ever move out of Mommy and Daddy's basement[/quote]

I’m sorry, but I strongly disagree. Many of these schools have enormous endowments and are charging upwards of $50k a year for on-line classes. It’s obscene.[/quote]

Endowments are almost always for specific purposes none of which are to compensate students for an inferior education during a time of a pandemic. In any case It was only for 1/4 of an academic year.
At your $50,000 a year tuition example it comes to $12,500. Now what is the value of online classes versus actual classes in respect of that figure ? Is it 10% less value , 20% less value ? I truly don’t know. But there certainly is value in online learning.
I know in my son’s case the teachers went nuts and gave them a ton of work these last two months once they knew they were not returning to school. In my son’s case I would say he worked harder and benefited more from the online classes.
In any event, and notwithstanding that I am a lawyer , I have to strongly agree with Beast and Monte on this one.
 
Last edited:
Agree with RMN & Monty. As a retired lawyer these kind of lawsuits annoy the hell out of me; just the kind of stuff that gives lawyers a bad name. Kind of reminds me of an old George Harrison tune Sue Me, Sue You Blues.

My son did remote learning for 1/2 semester and the school (App State in his case) did everything humanly possible to keep the communication line up with both parents and students and to make allowances for the trauma including allowing students to opt in to a pass/fail by course after their finals. My son even got to participate in his extra curricular club via Zoom.
Would be a totally different story if a school arbitrarily changed from in person learning to remote learning permanently but this was temporary to protect the students during a pandemic. Would love to see the courts throw these all out as without merit.
 
Last edited:
[quote="NCJohnnie" post=387900]Agree with RMN & Monty. As a retired lawyer these kind of lawsuits annoy the hell out of me; just the kind of stuff that gives lawyers a bad name. Kind of reminds me of an old George Harrison tune Sue Me, Sue You Blues.

My son did remote learning for 1/2 semester and the school (App State in his case) did everything humanly possible to keep the communication line up with both parents and students and to make allowances for the trauma including allowing students to opt in to a pass/fail by course after their finals. My son even got to participate in his extra curricular club via Zoom.
Would be a totally different story if a school arbitrarily changed from in person learning to remote learning permanently but this was temporary to protect the students during a pandemic. Would love to see the courts throw these all out as without merit.[/quote]
Agree, with costs against the plaintiffs.
 
[quote="redmannorth" post=387901][quote="NCJohnnie" post=387900]Agree with RMN & Monty. As a retired lawyer these kind of lawsuits annoy the hell out of me; just the kind of stuff that gives lawyers a bad name. Kind of reminds me of an old George Harrison tune Sue Me, Sue You Blues.

My son did remote learning for 1/2 semester and the school (App State in his case) did everything humanly possible to keep the communication line up with both parents and students and to make allowances for the trauma including allowing students to opt in to a pass/fail by course after their finals. My son even got to participate in his extra curricular club via Zoom.
Would be a totally different story if a school arbitrarily changed from in person learning to remote learning permanently but this was temporary to protect the students during a pandemic. Would love to see the courts throw these all out as without merit.[/quote]
Agree, with costs against the plaintiffs.[/quote]

NCJ and RMN, did not mean to suggest that all, or even most, attorneys are opportunistic. To the contrary, most are not
 
Last edited:
Here's the thing about online learning. I've never checked, but I do understand that SJU charges a lot more than other schools for on line learning. Some people with influence have spoken about trying to get the school to bring these costs into line with competing schools. However, I'm also pretty sure that our costs are higher because of smaller class size online.

The thing about online learning as opposed to face to face is bandwidth. In face-to-face learning, there is a limit to how many students can register and fit into a classroom or lecture hall. In online learning, there are no such restrictions, so that the overall cost of providing remote classwork is lower. You can have one professor and 10 grad assistants for a course with 400 kids registered.

Universities didn't profit from sending kids home. Groundskeepers still have to maintain the landscape, custodial staff and security are still required, and teachers and administrators still get paid. The school didn't profit in the traditional way that schools who offer remote learning are able to do at a lower cost.

The kid waited until the end of the semester to file his suit. He could have dropped his classes and perhaps found a sympathetic judge to require the school to refund tuition. But this kid wanted to earn his credits, but for free. His teachers got paid, the school continues to run without laying off hundreds, and all of that costs money.

I do agree that schools should refund or credit students for meal plans unused, and also some type of adjustment for housing.
 
Last edited:
I finished my last semester at St. John’s in this online format.

It wasn’t ideal, but nothing about this pandemic has been ideal for anyone. Suing over it doesn’t make much sense to me.

Universities are doing the best they can. Getting upset at a schools attempt to educate students online when this wasn’t even expected in just February of this year, it’s lame as hell.
 
My cousin goes to SJU's main campus and the school did refund part of her room and board for the semester. She still took classes and received a grade like if she was there. Obviously it wasn't ideal, but the teachers assigned work and were there to help her with any questions she had. Unfortunately she is from out of state and won't be returning in the fall becasue SJU will going with online classes in the fall again.

Maybe this student could take a step back, evaluate the situation and then decide not to go back in the fall if he feels like he isn't getting his money's worth, instead of suing the school for something that could not be prevented.
 
Just as a point of reference, my daughter just graduated from GW. From spring break, in mid-march, through finals in early May, everything was on-line. The thought of asking for a partial refund would never cross my mind. Once again, the word "opportunistic" comes to mind with this kid and his family. Karma usually has a way of taking care of these things.
 
[quote="Jack Williams" post=387916]I finished my last semester at St. John’s in this online format.

It wasn’t ideal, but nothing about this pandemic has been ideal for anyone. Suing over it doesn’t make much sense to me.

Universities are doing the best they can. Getting upset at a schools attempt to educate students online when this wasn’t even expected in just February of this year, it’s lame as hell.[/quote]



Congratulations Jack, wishing you continued success in all of your future endeavors.

This lawsuit brings to light what is wrong in society today. Too many people looking to cash in at the expense of others. Now St. Johns is going to have to spend money hiring law firm to fight against these charges. Why, because an opportunist has decided to use a devastating Pandemic to attempt to enrich himself. If you really had a problem with online classes, I am sure that the University would have allowed you to withdraw and either refunded your money or used it towards the next semester where in person classes would resume.

St. Johns is much more than a school, it is a Vincentian Community with a mission of service. To attempt to exploit the effect that the Pandemic has on St Johns for personal gain is despicable.
 
Last edited:
And yet most of us remember STJ leadership that tried to exploit that we are a Vincentian community. A jerk is a jerk is a jerk, independent of whether they agree or disagree with me.
 
[quote="Jack Williams" post=387916]I finished my last semester at St. John’s in this online format.

It wasn’t ideal, but nothing about this pandemic has been ideal for anyone. Suing over it doesn’t make much sense to me.

Universities are doing the best they can. Getting upset at a schools attempt to educate students online when this wasn’t even expected in just February of this year, it’s lame as hell.[/quote]

Congratulations, Jack!

Seems like yesterday you announced your plans to attend SJU. I wish the timing of your graduation was better, but this too shall pass and I suspect you have a bright future ahead.
 
I’m not speaking as to the specifics of the lawsuit. But the college system is broken. Tuition has gone up dramatically each year without justification such that that the avg tuition for private school is in excess of $35k per year. Notwithstanding financial aid, kids (those who can afford to go) are graduating with enormous debt and few jobs. The current crisis has only exacerbated these problems. Now schools are offering on-line classes and seeking to charge the same obscene tuition. Something needs to change.
 
[quote="Boo Harvey" post=387930]I’m not speaking as to the specifics of the lawsuit. But the college system is broken. Tuition has gone up dramatically each year without justification such that that the avg tuition for private school is in excess of $35k per year. Notwithstanding financial aid, kids (those who can afford to go) are graduating with enormous debt and few jobs. The current crisis has only exacerbated these problems. Now schools are offering on-line classes and seeking to charge the same obscene tuition. Something needs to change.[/quote]

I don’t have any specifics but I’m pretty sure St. John’s has been in contact with students about cutting down the cost of classes moving forward. I’m not entirely sure about it because I’m done with school but I have heard some things.

Schools need some time to figure these things out. Again, being outraged at schools for not immediately knowing how to handle a pandemic when things were moving along fine back in February, it’s a little unfair.

Let’s see how things progress
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top