Even with the recent changes to the wording of Penn State's COVID-19 Cohort form, some students are upset with the fact that they even have to sign a form at all. 

Students at Behrend are also required to sign this form in order to return to campus.

"I was just really caught off guard because to me it seemed like a complete cop out and just an absolute scam", said Austin Brown, Block and Bridal Club President at Penn State.

The original form included language that students believed made the form seem like a liability waiver. 

The University released a statement yesterday and changed some of the wording in the compact to ensure students knew their rights remained in place.  

However, even with the changes, Brown believes he shouldn't have to sign anything, as long as he knows the risks. 

"I don't think it needs to be to the extent of having us sign a compact", Brown said. "I understand they're trying to protect themselves, but trying to protect themselves, but at the same time not reducing tuition fees at all whatsoever". 

Attorney John Carlson believes rather than a liability waiver, universities should instead use some form of a mutual agreement. 

"A responsibility agreement, kind of like a code of conduct agreement", said Carlson. Those have been on college campuses for years. They just haven't required people to acknowledge that we've provided it to you".

Carlson also says students are not legally require to sign the form, but colleges do have the ability to disqualify a student from certain activities if he or she does not follow the safety guidelines. 

"They may be prohibited from certain activities if they refuse to, not necessarily sign a waiver of liability, but acknowledge their social responsibility to the other students for the safety of everyone on campus" Carlson said. 

Penn State Behrend did not provide anyone on it's campus for an interview, but did refer to a statement from Penn State's Senior News Director Mary Powers. 

The statement reads, " "While some have misinterpreted the language of the Compact as a waiver of student's rights, that is neither the case, nor the intent. The Compact is to reinforce the University's expectations and requirements, and to see that those requirements were raised to everyone's attention. The language is being revised to clarify the purpose of the Compact".

This story was supported by the Economic Hardship Reporting Project.