The high school graduating class of 2020 missed out on prom, graduation night, final performances, sporting events and traditional graduation ceremonies due to the COVID-19 pandemic and lock down.
Not only did they lose out on the memorable parts of their final months as a high school student, but they also had to watch as the high school class of 2021 were gifted iPads for the supposed trials they endured during the pandemic. The university had pity for the incoming freshmen and decided that they would get an iPad as reparations for what they had gone through during the pandemic.
This is not to say that the class of 2021 collectively had it easy during the pandemic. Most people had to make sacrifices during the lock down and the pandemic that lasted for several years after. However, it is simply ridiculous that they were specifically apologized to and gifted an expensive tablet.
The high school class of 2021 still got to do all of their special events, including prom and graduation. In 2020, when the pandemic caused a lock down it would have been their junior year. This means that the worst thing that would have happened is missing one of their proms and an SAT or other specialized test for college admissions. They still had the hope of getting their special senior year events and got to miss a test. College admissions were also aware that the pandemic prevented students from taking specialized tests such as the SAT so many schools got rid of the requirement.
This was not only a slap in the face to the class of 2020 and all that they already lost, but it was incredibly unfair to the other upperclassmen who paid the university longer for their education only to receive nothing in return.
If this was not ridiculous enough, the university started a tradition of gifting iPads to incoming freshmen who did nothing to earn these presents, while current students continue to receive nothing in return. The only way that non-freshmen students can receive an iPad from the university is through working for NevadaFIT, where freshmen have been generously receiving free iPads and creative Apple Pencils.
Incoming students at NevadaFIT receive credit for their participation. Students learn about what they want to study and get free technology while the class of 2020, got punished by the university and didn’t get this opportunity at all.
Even though the university did not have an in-person orientation due to the health and safety guidelines, that does not make it right for the university to put the class of 2021 on a pedestal when the class of 2020 missed out on the better part of their senior year and the beginning of their college experience.
On top of this, the upperclassmen who finessed the system by getting their iPad through working for NevadaFIT who have to endure working with incoming freshmen and mediocre pay just to receive the same prize that should be granted to them to begin with.
Opinions expressed in The Nevada Sagebrush are solely those of the author and do not necessarily express the views of The Sagebrush or its staff. Madison Wanco is a student at the University of Nevada studying journalism. They can be reached at edrewes@sagebrush.unr.edu and on Twitter @NevadaSagebrush.
