n I am one of the five people at Boston University who knows or cares that BU does not have a study abroad program in Russia (“BU charges new abroad fee,” Sept. 13, p. 1). BU used to have a program, but it was cancelled spring semester of my freshman year. When I decided that I still wanted to study abroad in Moscow, I was left completely on my own to find a program which suited my needs.

Having gone through the process of studying abroad in a non-BU program, I have to say that it is not an experience for the faint of heart.

The Study Abroad Office was absolutely no help at all in my attempt to go abroad. If anything, talking with people in that office showed me just how many hoops there are to taking the initiative and going outside of the BU box. I understand that the Study Abroad Office wants to encourage BU students to use its programs, but even though this university has a plethora of study abroad options, it simply does not encompass all of the options out there.

Therefore, it should offer its students the opportunity to take advantage of the many and diverse programs that exist through other universities or institutions without making it nearly impossible to transfer credits and refusing to accept grades from non-BU programs.

BU happily accepts students from other universities who want to study abroad using its programs. So why not make it easier for BU students to study through other universities? I was amazed after talking with my cohorts from different schools who where with me in Russia who had had much more help and assistance in finding a study abroad program outside of their school. Not everyone has to take a leave of absence to study in a country where BU does not offer a program.

I am happy that the Study Abroad Office has finally recognized the need to help students who want to take advantage of non-BU programs, but I’m appalled that they are going to charge an extra fee for a service that their office should provide anyway. Maybe more of the resources of that office should be spent helping students find existing programs that fit their needs as opposed to creating new ones through BU. There will always be some program somewhere that a particular student wants to take advantage of that BU cannot or will not offer.

The main reason the Study Abroad Office gave for canceling BU’s Moscow program was the lack of interest. If BU is not willing to spend the money it takes to keep a program open for the five students who want to go, then the very least it should do is help them find an alternative.

Ursula Rice

CAS ’07