Harvard just gave students 5 days to pack all of their things, move out, and go home. many can't go home because of costs and travel restrictions, and they've provided no guidance. and we're expected to go to class for the rest of this week.
like...I CAN'T go home to Jamaica, especially on such short notice. the visa I'm using to work after I graduate necessitates that I stay in the US until I get the authorization document in July. where do I and the other students doing post-completion OPT go?
students doing post-completion OPT, what are you doing? idk what to do...
and to the people saying "they have exceptions," I've reached out to multiple people at this point. and the application that is due tomorrow morning isn't even online yet! you can't just send an email unleashing mass anxiety and be so tragically unprepared
conflicting and incomplete information is streaming in from 7 different sources, some in authority. the FAQ (dso.college.harvard.edu/coronavirusfaq) says *nothing*, and different offices and deans and people are saying different things about the situation. this is a sick joke
thank you to those offering places and advice. I'm lucky to have a network of friends and family that are supportive, so I'll be able to keep it pushing. the OPT situation is still dubious, but the international office is being flooded right now and will likely respond soon
there are others with much more complex and difficult situations than mine, and this thread is for them. it's for the callous and irresponsible way that the school is handling this crisis, negatively affecting many more students than kind individuals can accommodate
muting this now, I'm not giving statements to reporters, and my people have got me.
Primus, our FGLI student organization, put together a beautiful guide providing advice and answering a lot of questions that have been otherwise unanswered. check it out here: docs.google.com/document/d/1mK…
I know Harvard undergrads who would like to talk to the media about this situation. so, dm me if you have a contact, and I'll pass it on to them
Primus and the First Generation Harvard Alumni have put together this fundraiser to support FGLI students. please share and donate to this and similar funds at other schools
Harvard just reversed its policy of not providing money for storage to people on financial aid! they'll be covering that cost now. previously they were providing "advances" (loans) for flights only. this is huge, & in no small part because of student organizing & outside support
