Harvard closing for rest of semester

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

Have you moved your kid out of a dorm recently? Did you put more than two duffles in the car?

[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.

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.

I live in a college town and we have a homeless shelter in town. Every college town has resources for youth. Females struggling will get assistance over males.
The college student should stop by the local government department and sign up for food stamps etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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"

Harvard has less than 200 poor students?! OMG, you cannot be serious. Please tell me you don’t actually think that’s true.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

Have you moved your kid out of a dorm recently? Did you put more than two duffles in the car?

I'm with the duffle bag PP. To immediate pp, how did you get your kid there in the first place?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

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.

I live in a college town and we have a homeless shelter in town. Every college town has resources for youth. Females struggling will get assistance over males.
The college student should stop by the local government department and sign up for food stamps etc.

So you’d be OK if your residence kicked you out and instructed you to go live at a homeless shelter?

[Anonymous]

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?

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.

This is a huge inconvenience and no doubt stressful. She will have to leave her stuff. She will have to decide wether to ride it out in the US or fly home, depending on her parents' financial situation. But would you rather they had waited for a COVID-19 outbreak on campus to then disperse students? Would you rather they give people more time, increasing the opportunity for the virus to reach the campus and spread like wildfire before they can return home? This is virus is an epic phenomenon, and will end up affecting most people FAR WORSE than than it affects these college students. Of course more notice would have been fantastic, but you don't always have that luxury when there is a global emergency.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

My boyfriend employs young people. In a college town there is always a couch you can couch surf on. Young peoples accomodations tend to be fluid in college towns. The kids
left behind will be eligble for food stamps and welfare. (Since service jobs will dwindle)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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"

Harvard has less than 200 poor students?! OMG, you cannot be serious. Please tell me you don’t actually think that’s true.

All the information is public.., or are you one of those my parents only made $200k I’m poor.

[Anonymous]

One kid tweeting got literally dozens of offers of accommodation. Obviously not going to take a stranger up in it but I’m certain nearby alums would pitch in to help the VERY SMALL fraction of students who are t able to go home (or take the school up in the offer to stay in campus.)

[Anonymous]

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?

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.

This is a huge inconvenience and no doubt stressful. She will have to leave her stuff. She will have to decide wether to ride it out in the US or fly home, depending on her parents' financial situation. But would you rather they had waited for a COVID-19 outbreak on campus to then disperse students? Would you rather they give people more time, increasing the opportunity for the virus to reach the campus and spread like wildfire before they can return home? This is virus is an epic phenomenon, and will end up affecting most people FAR WORSE than than it affects these college students. Of course more notice would have been fantastic, but you don't always have that luxury when there is a global emergency.

There are risks in life. If parents send their halfway around the world to college than the student and parents have to figure out away to get the student home or conversely have the student rent a room in town.

[Anonymous]

The issue isn't that the students won't be able to make it happen. The issue is that there will be economic loss to them for doing so (stuff they would have saved, and/or longer storage prices, etc), not even getting to the fact that they already paid for living expenses through May.

Compare that to possible alternatives, such as a temporary shift to online that allows students to return in a month. Or gave them until the end of spring break to move out. There was NO need to force move-out this weekend.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The colleges don't care if it takes DC an extra semester to complete their degree. It will mean more money for the colleges.

Think it through.

1) Colleges and universities report out their graduation rates and post-graduation placement rates; if it takes students extra time to complete their degree, that reflects badly on the institution, and affects rankings.

2) You need space for incoming classes.

Come on. Think.

they are still graduating on time, this does not affect graduation.

The next question will be whether they go to a graduation ceremony or get their diploma in the mail.

[Anonymous]

Ya'll are crazy. There are always rooms to rent in college towns and half rooms to share and rent in college towns. College students know how to sign up for welfare and food stamps.

[Anonymous]

This has the students absorb the cost - double living expenses - not the university.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

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.

I live in a college town and we have a homeless shelter in town. Every college town has resources for youth. Females struggling will get assistance over males.
The college student should stop by the local government department and sign up for food stamps etc.

So you’d be OK if your residence kicked you out and instructed you to go live at a homeless shelter?

No one is kicking anyone out-there is an explicit exception for kids who don’t have somewhere to go. Read about the deaths in Italy (coming to a town near you in 11days) if you want to feel sorry for someone.