Fixing study abroad

By Editorial

Some students who paid big bucks to gain an internship and study in London for a semester through Santa Clara's new London program were left up the creek without a paddle, internet access for online classes, basic accommodations and quality internships.

Senior Tayiaba Kahn, in last week's The Santa Clara, described her experience: "It was ratty-tatty, it was in a basement, the entrance was, no kidding, a broom closet... Inside was torn carpet and five computers, and piles of paper everywhere."

An overseas job is bound to have its ups and owns, but this was not exactly a dream internship.

The International Programs Office should continue being open to revising and mending the London internship program by communicating with the students who participated in the program.

In addition to the changes International Programs director Dennis Gordon suggested last week -- like the placement of a faculty advisor -- the International Programs Office needs to work with the International Education Foundation to develop better placements for students seeking internships.

Specifically, they should create a better process for matching quality internships with students' interests. And most importantly, they should weed out the hellish internships that only offer mile-long mail rooms, dusty cabinets and long hours of pointless, monotonous work.

Admittedly, the resignation of the London Internship Coordinator created difficulties for the program that could not have been foreseen by Santa Clara staff. But some of the issues, like internet availability for online classes, could and should have been foreseen.

While we recognize that it is impossible for every student who goes abroad to have a purely magical time and never experience any difficulties, we ask that groups of students who spend significant amounts of money be open to minor program imperfections, but also that they be better accommodated.