Study Abroad Program Still Huge Hassle

To the editors:

Regarding “Students to Advise on Study Abroad” (News, Sept. 24): Sure, I had an amazing study abroad experience, but now that I have returned, being gone is starting to haunt me. Although University President Lawrence H. Summers purports to be a great supporter of refining the study abroad program to make it more viable for students, perhaps he needs to inform the rest of his staff. Because everyone here seems to be bent on punishing me for leaving for a semester! Petitioning to leave was quite a hassle, but returning has proved even more difficult

I returned to school from studying abroad last semester prepared to start an exciting senior year. Little did I realize that I would spend countless hours running from administrative office to office, calling the registrar and financial aid office and writing angry e-mails about discrepancies posted on my record.

Upon my return, I was not issued a student ID, only to wait for about a week before curiously calling the ID office. “That’s funny!” I heard. “I didn’t make you an ID. Sorry, I will make one and you can pick it up in the next couple of days.”

Then, after already having signed twice for the same computer loan (once while abroad), I got yet another letter telling me I owe money! Apparently, somehow my computer loan from the previous semester was never processed and no one informed me. Needless to say, I contacted the financial aid office to let them know about the problem, which (to my officer’s credit), was promptly resolved.

I repeatedly checked my mailbox and was surprised that nothing was ever in there, not one letter, not even the Handbook for Students. I talked to my superintendent, who basically told me if there was no mail in my box, then I didn’t have any. Now, I know I at least receive a few bills each month—so I knew something was wrong. I called Harvard University Mail Services and was told that my account was in order and they had long stopped forwarding my mail. I returned to my House superintendent after a friend informed me a package he sent was returned to him. Taking matters into my own hands, I inspected my mailbox discovering after a close look that a piece of tape was pulled across the back (indicating my absence?). I removed the tape, and that very day received a bank statement and some graduate school applications. How long would my mail have been retarded had I not taken this simple action?

May L. Lugemwa ’04

Sept. 24, 2003