International
Students Angered
To the editors:
We, the undersigned international students, find
the proposed closing of the dining halls for the Fall Break to be
entirely unacceptable. We feel that we would be particularly affected
by the negative ramifications of this decision for the following
reasons:
First of all, it is generally impossible for members of the international
student body to return to their homes and families for short periods
of time throughout the school year.
The college ensures international students that while they reside
at Oberlin, they will be provided for in terms of food and lodging
during the academic terms.
Therefore, it would be unjust and unethical to shut down CDS over
the breaks, at times when most of the international students stay
on campus and depend on the meals provided.
Secondly, as stated in the Housing and Dining Agreement 2002-03,
signed by each and every student (not only international) who resides
on campus, one of the terms of services provided is the guarantee
of meal service at all times, “with the exception of the December
vacation and Winter break.”
Students have paid to have meals during fall and spring breaks,
and if these meals are denied, these people are all entitled to
a refund of their payment for those weeks.
Finally, it is intolerable for the college to change the program
from what was originally agreed upon. This unexpected decision would
not only cause great inconveniences for the international student
community, but also negate all the work and effort from the side
of Associate dean of studies Ellen Sayles and her assistants to
provide adequate care for those who are far from homes and resources.
Given these reasons we expect the college to take appropriate steps
to adjust this situation to accommodate the needs of the student
and staff body, by either changing the decision to close the dining
facilities or providing other means of refund for the services being
denied.
–Yuuki Shinomiya
College sophomore
–Sarah LeBaron von Baeyer
College sophomore
–Igor Holas
College sophomore
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