An unidentified student has filed a lawsuit against Liberty University, demanding a full refund of their tuition. The university, located in Lynchburg, Virginia, came under fire after refusing to close its campus and allowing students to return from spring break in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.
University officials eventually closed the campus and moved classes online, but some students were upset that they had to pay the full cost of tuition for the spring semester. The student who filed the lawsuit accused the school of trying to profit off of the coronavirus pandemic.
"Liberty University is, in a very real sense, profiting from the COVID-19 pandemic — keeping its campus and campus services 'open' as a pretext to retain Plaintiff's and the other Class members' room, board and campus fees, despite no longer having to incur the full cost of providing those services, all the while putting students' finances and health at risk," lawyers for "Student A," wrote in the lawsuit.
The lawsuit is seeking class-action status to include other students at the university.
The school issued a statement saying that it is offering a $1,000 credit to "certain students" who decided to move off-campus.
"Liberty University has tirelessly attempted to balance the needs of students, employees, and the community as it has navigated through the unprecedented health challenges presented by COVID-19," school officials wrote. "We have also taken into account the economic impact and legal rights of all the parties involved."
Tuition at the school costs $23,800, while housing costs can run between $4,750 and $8,000.
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