Most classes at the University of Michigan are being held virtually, but graduate students at the Ann Arbor campus held a "die-in" on Monday to protest the university's return-to-learn plan. Students call the school's actions in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic "inadequate."

The mock funeral was staged by students dressed in black lying on campus grounds accompanied by pallbearers carrying a casket, taps, and protestors delivering their messages as eulogies.

The protest was held on the first day of on-campus instruction, which resumed Monday (8/31). On the first day of in-person learning at U of M's Flint campus, a member of the campus community has already reported testing positive for COVID-19.

Amir Fleischmann, a union member with the Graduate Employees organization calls the university's plan to reopen "totally inadequate."

"Face-to-face learning is extremely dangerous," he said. "Listen to the campus community and hear us when we say that this reopening plan is totally inadequate."

Fleischmann went on to tell WJBK that his organization is fighting for the right to have the unconditional right to teach all courses remotely. But they're also fighting for the rest of the campus community.

"We're fighting for undergrads, we are fighting for all workers on this campus to have a robust testing policy that can keep not only this campus but the entire community safe," he said.

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