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Students in the University of California and California State University systems say they shouldn't have to pay fees for services they can't access while campuses are shut down -- and now they've filed lawsuits to get their money back.
Class-action suits filed in federal courts in Los Angeles and Oakland this week demand refunds for the 700,000 students enrolled in the two university systems.
Adam Levitt, a lawyer representing the students, said it is "improper" for the universities "to attempt to retain what amounts to many millions of dollars in aggregate in campus fees they collected from their students, even though they terminated the services that these fees covered."
Mike Uhlenkamp, a spokesman for the Cal State Chancellor's office, said "the complaint misstates the facts."
"Campuses continue to operate, and many personal services are now provided remotely, such as counseling, advising, faculty office hours, disability student services, and even telehealth medical care," he said. "CSU will vigorously defend against this suit."
The University of California declined to comment on the lawsuit.
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