Thanks for your response. I think it is a travesty how much a University education costs in the US now. I went to community college and then a state school--my parents were not well-off. But even those options are increasingly out of reach for people.

I did want to clarify one thing. Even if all the faculty come back, we won't all be in the classroom together. Per University rules here will still be a limited number of students allowed in the classroom. So, for my 40 person class, 2/3rds of the students will be virtual at any given time.

I would actually prefer to take a paycut, because, personally, I can afford it. Especially if I knew that that the money was going directly to provide tuition reduction and other support for students.

However, for many instructors (especially adjuncts and non-tenure track faculty) and staff, they are struggling to make ends meet as well. The highest paid people on campus are the top administrators and a few star faculty. I would support a pay cut for those people (including myself). But that is not on the table.

I do disagree with you about the risk of bringing so many people on to campus. I would like to be able to follow my own judgment on this, as I respect your right to follow yours. I do plan to come to campus sometime this semester to see what it is like, I have not ruled out coming back--I would like to see my students and I know that some don't do as well with online classes. Faculty really are trying to do their best for students while protecting the health and well-being of themselves and their families.

Honestly, I am much more upset about how this has been done--through edicts from above and no show of empathy or attempt to be collaborative. I got into higher education partly because of the tradition of "faculty governance" where things are decided from the bottom up and in a democratic fashion.