Harvard closing for rest of semester

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Force move-out of dorms by Sunday, that is insane, in light of the circumstances (or lack thereof). There is no reason not to allow more time, like by the end of spring break.

Dear Harvard: just because you are among the first colleges to do this doesn't make it an example of leadership.

You can't figure out how to move out by Sunday?

My daughter’s roommate is an international student from Myanmar. Yes, let me just suggest that she visit a Home Depot in her hometown, “get some boxes, rent a van, and drive to Massachusetts.”

God, some of you are so stupid.

[Anonymous]

So much privilege in this thread -- like why can't every parent just drive to pick up their kid? or hey, if you have too much stuff, just leave it by the dumpsters (and just buy it all again next year). Just rent a storage unit!

I went there a long time ago. My parents didn't live within driving distance and they wouldn't have time off on short notice to come get me in any case.

I couldn't afford to throw away all my stuff -- like winter coats, my books, my printer! That stuff is expensive! Do you think everyone can afford to just dispose of all their stuff and buy it all again next year?

Even renting a storage unit would have been a big expense for me.

SMH at all these privileged, privileged people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Force move-out of dorms by Sunday, that is insane, in light of the circumstances (or lack thereof). There is no reason not to allow more time, like by the end of spring break.

Dear Harvard: just because you are among the first colleges to do this doesn't make it an example of leadership.

You can't figure out how to move out by Sunday?

Aren't they having midterms this week? Most of the students are from out of state and no, they do not generally fly all their crap home in May. They will have to find storage solutions with no planning ahead and then get on a flight they haven't even booked yet. Though the flight is the easy part. It'll probably take multiple uber rides to get the dorm crap where it needs to go.

Think, for a moment, about the dorm move-out procedures. It is not as simple as changing the date from May to Sunday. There will be no system in place if everyone, including the other students who typically help with that, have their own move-out happening.

OMG! Exams... you know that professors are required to give them a B, so don't sweat it.

So a student who is smart enough to go to Harvard can't figure out how to rent a storage unit by Sunday... AND TAKE EXAMS!

Geez even the athletes can figure out how to travel all over the country and take their exams.

BTW my child is in the same situation, and really it's not that big of a deal.

How does your kid like Amherst

Nice try hon! Not even close but you sound like a tiger mom... you got this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:God you people are entitled and in a world completely your own. This is a serious educational, financial and social disruption that will compound stress and mental health. Even the students of means are going to end up depressed and listless; those without means are going to end up depressed, listless, lonely, hungry, and unsafe.

There had to have been a much better way, and it would have included some notice. I’m horrified.

Please tell me this is sarcasm ... because at this point I'm not even sure.

Agree with PP. If Harvard kids can't adapt they are in for a rude shock when they graduate. Life is about change and turning on a dime.

I am hoping this is sarcasm as well. If it's not, then good grief.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Buy a book on minimalism or Rent a storage unit.

w.o.w. so helpful.

Ah, the irony of telling someone to buy a book on minimalism!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For those saying it's an overreaction when there hasn't yet been a CV case at Harvard, Jason Furman makes this point in his twitter thread linked above:

"How do 6,700 undergraduates living in dorms and eating together in dining halls self isolate? How could we send them home then?"

Once there is a confirmed case, the logistics of handling it become incredibly complicated, more so than the logistics of closing early.

Who cares what Furman thinks. Harvard should have followed Rice and NYU.

Generally, one looks at all possibilities, not just one. What if the virus would never have spread to the Harvard community and all of this is for naught? it's just moving kids with free time on their hands to other locations, locations where they may be more likely to interact with elderly family members. And as I said earlier, it costs the university little-- they aren't refunding for room and board never used or cancellation of activities outside of classes.

This is H covering its rear end.

[Anonymous]

This is done every May at moveout time:
stack the bike, the frig, the microwave, the couch, the lazyboy, the surplus clothes near the dumpster.

Or if you can, drive them over to Goodwill in town.

Buy 2 $10 duffles at K mart. STuff your clothes in them.
Buy a plane ticket.

You are effectively moved out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So much privilege in this thread -- like why can't every parent just drive to pick up their kid? or hey, if you have too much stuff, just leave it by the dumpsters (and just buy it all again next year). Just rent a storage unit!

I went there a long time ago. My parents didn't live within driving distance and they wouldn't have time off on short notice to come get me in any case.

I couldn't afford to throw away all my stuff -- like winter coats, my books, my printer! That stuff is expensive! Do you think everyone can afford to just dispose of all their stuff and buy it all again next year?

Even renting a storage unit would have been a big expense for me.

SMH at all these privileged, privileged people.

You sound really ignorant. The kids were leaving in a few weeks anyway... so it's a few weeks earlier, plans change, it's not a big deal... do whatever you were doing in a few weeks... do that this week.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:God you people are entitled and in a world completely your own. This is a serious educational, financial and social disruption that will compound stress and mental health. Even the students of means are going to end up depressed and listless; those without means are going to end up depressed, listless, lonely, hungry, and unsafe.

There had to have been a much better way, and it would have included some notice. I’m horrified.

Please tell me this is sarcasm ... because at this point I'm not even sure.

Not sarcastic in the least. You’re talking about buying books on minimalism, like poor kids can Marie Kondo themselves out of this disruption. Some of these kids pay their own way, can’t afford to put stuff out on the street, don’t have access to air bnb, can’t buy a random plane ticket, live overseas in war zones.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:God you people are entitled and in a world completely your own. This is a serious educational, financial and social disruption that will compound stress and mental health. Even the students of means are going to end up depressed and listless; those without means are going to end up depressed, listless, lonely, hungry, and unsafe.

There had to have been a much better way, and it would have included some notice. I’m horrified.

Please tell me this is sarcasm ... because at this point I'm not even sure.

Agree with PP. If Harvard kids can't adapt they are in for a rude shock when they graduate. Life is about change and turning on a dime.

This is just straight up ignorant. Some students come from abusive households they can’t return to. Some don’t have parents that can support them returning home. Some live too far to travel on short notice. Some students are aged-out former foster care kids who literally have no where to go. Some are from countries that are not safe to return to (including those currently being affected by coronavirus.) Some are too poor to travel on short notice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So much privilege in this thread -- like why can't every parent just drive to pick up their kid? or hey, if you have too much stuff, just leave it by the dumpsters (and just buy it all again next year). Just rent a storage unit!

I went there a long time ago. My parents didn't live within driving distance and they wouldn't have time off on short notice to come get me in any case.

I couldn't afford to throw away all my stuff -- like winter coats, my books, my printer! That stuff is expensive! Do you think everyone can afford to just dispose of all their stuff and buy it all again next year?

Even renting a storage unit would have been a big expense for me.

SMH at all these privileged, privileged people.

You sound really ignorant. The kids were leaving in a few weeks anyway... so it's a few weeks earlier, plans change, it's not a big deal... do whatever you were doing in a few weeks... do that this week.

Not correct. Spring break was about to happen. They were not planning to move out until late May, about 10 weeks from now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So much privilege in this thread -- like why can't every parent just drive to pick up their kid? or hey, if you have too much stuff, just leave it by the dumpsters (and just buy it all again next year). Just rent a storage unit!

I went there a long time ago. My parents didn't live within driving distance and they wouldn't have time off on short notice to come get me in any case.

I couldn't afford to throw away all my stuff -- like winter coats, my books, my printer! That stuff is expensive! Do you think everyone can afford to just dispose of all their stuff and buy it all again next year?

Even renting a storage unit would have been a big expense for me.

SMH at all these privileged, privileged people.

You sound really ignorant. The kids were leaving in a few weeks anyway... so it's a few weeks earlier, plans change, it's not a big deal... do whatever you were doing in a few weeks... do that this week.

NP. As someone who was functionally homeless in college this would have drastically changed my standard of living. I was a student who worked full time and it took me months to get ready for breaks.

[Anonymous]

I think it will all be fine for the Harvard parents and students in the long run -- but we should know better than to post our anxiety and looking for support of understanding on this board, especially from the person who is berating anyone who pushes back on the criticism for being concerned about moving out this weekend. We can feel bad for our kids and still turn on the dime, make arrangements, and criticize Harvard for taking the drastic step in general.

[Anonymous]

Students can stay on campus if they have no where to go. If it’s a financial issue assistance is possible. I don’t think we need to break out the pity party for Harvard undergrads just yet. -former first generation student who knows its hard but not crime against humanity, ffs

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So much privilege in this thread -- like why can't every parent just drive to pick up their kid? or hey, if you have too much stuff, just leave it by the dumpsters (and just buy it all again next year). Just rent a storage unit!

I went there a long time ago. My parents didn't live within driving distance and they wouldn't have time off on short notice to come get me in any case.

I couldn't afford to throw away all my stuff -- like winter coats, my books, my printer! That stuff is expensive! Do you think everyone can afford to just dispose of all their stuff and buy it all again next year?

Even renting a storage unit would have been a big expense for me.

SMH at all these privileged, privileged people.

You sound really ignorant. The kids were leaving in a few weeks anyway... so it's a few weeks earlier, plans change, it's not a big deal... do whatever you were doing in a few weeks... do that this week.

NP. As someone who was functionally homeless in college this would have drastically changed my standard of living. I was a student who worked full time and it took me months to get ready for breaks.

and harvard has <200 poor students and now they provide stipends for kids to travel and guess what... this is not about you.

"functionally homeless"