University handling of MSU Dubai lacked tact

Once again the editorial board fails to do ANY research whatsoever before writing their Op-Eds.

Check out this link http://www.thenational.ae/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100707/NATIONAL/707069857/0/FOREIGN

MSU Dubai students did win concessions from MSU regarding fees and airfare if they choose to come to the US. This was published yesterday.

Honestly, the editorial boards are getting lazier and dumber by the semester.

@MSUAlum2001
“Given the expenses, logistics and cultural changes involved in moving to the U.S., it is highly unlikely any students will be able to take advantage of MSU’s offer.”

I think that covers more than airfare and fees. I don’t always agree with what the Editorial Board writes, but it seems people like you don’t actually read anything. Hell, did you even read the article you linked?
Try this:
“Many will not be able to transfer to the US campus in East Lansing, Michigan.”

Or this:
“We thought they’d at least give us until spring,” said Mr Janeer. “Many universities have already closed their enrollments for the next semester so this just doesn’t give us any time.”

Stupid is as stupid does.

@MSUAlum2007,

I read both pieces. My comment refers to your quoted part and this paragraph in the Editorial.

“Moreover, the handling of this situation shows a callous disregard toward the students. …The statement MSU’s actions send is “out of sight, out of mind.” MSU Dubai students aren’t going to rally at the Administration Building or show up in force at the MSU Board of Trustees’ meetings. Their voices and faces are thousands of miles away and, because they are few, the impact — if any — of their protests would be small.”

You’re criticizing me for something not even related. The fact is the MSU Dubai students did meet with the administration and got concessions if they do indeed transfer to EL. And if you dig deeper into why some may not be able to transfer in this fall it is because they come from countries that tend to have a more complicated Visa process.

So seriously, when you’ve got something better get back to me.

It is a crappy deal for many and I won’t deny that but the University has made concessions

First off, I think MSU-D was a completely bad idea and a waste of money. I’m glad they’re divesting before it becomes a total clusterfuck.

That being said, the “concessions” offered were so small that it’d be shocking if more than one or two students with wealthy parents took them. They have to find living arrangements in a far-off foreign country in a month. Living arrangements can be difficult (at least a headache) to handle when you live an hour away. And we can’t forget the money it costs. Potentially, a lot of the MSU-D students may live with their parents or other caregivers. Having to factor in living costs will at least double the price of their education. Offering to pay for their plane ticket out here is like offering to buy someone lunch after they’ve found out they have cancer with an expensive treatment that isn’t covered by insurance.

That’s hyperbole, I know, but still.

@MSUAlum2001
“the impact â if any â of their protests *would be small.*”

Those concessions are small. Combined with the quote I gave in my earlier post, this seems to be a valid conclusion.

In terms of transparency let’s take a look at
at this line from the article you provided:
“University chiefs bowed to student pressure and granted concessions on fees and flights home yesterday after negotiations with the students’ association.”

The story was published on July 7, a Wednesday. MSUD was closed on Tuesday. That means on the same day, either immediately before or after the announcement was made (which you can note, was received via e-mail)students had to take the initiative and essentially and demand some kind of reparation for being blindsided. Same day = not transparent. In the paragraph you provided in your second post there is nothing to validate your opinion. The point appears to be that because MSUD students are in Dubai, they have no presence on the East Lansing campus. No presence means little impact. It’s the difference between getting another semester and having programs terminated “effective immediately”.
Yes, the university made concessions, the editorial doesn’t argue that they didn’t. What it does argue is that those concessions don’t mean much. Whether it’s Visas, cultural change, lodging, health problems waiving fees and covering airfare doesn’t matter. As the conclusion states, it is lip service.
My point is that if you want to call someone stupid and lazy that assertion needs to be backed up and you haven’t done that. Brush up on your reading comprehension first, then “when you’ve got something better get back to me.”

I am a student from MSUD, and contrary to what the article in the National published, students were not at all consulted.

Also, if you want to talk about bad journalism, the article in The National is a perfect example. Abdallah Jareer is a student who was recessed one semester ago (i.e. he has not been a student at MSUD for quite some time and this decision in no way affects him). Therefore, his statement is of no value whatsoever.

We are offered no concessions except air fare. They said we pay MSU Dubai fees in Lansing —but that isn’t a “concession”, if anything, all our costs have actually doubled.

@MSUAlum2007, I guess we’re just reading the intent of the editorial differently. I took it more literally, you’re saying they “meant” this. The only “concession” listed in this editorial was the option of coming to East Lansing. You’re inferring that that includes everything posted in the other article. You may be absolutely correct that it does but I took what they wrote at face value. And based on the history of the editorial boards lately, that seemed to be a surer bet.

You realize, Alum2001, that virtually no MSU-D student could possibly get a US Visa before the fall semester begins? Didn’t think of that did ya?

The MSU Admin has followed up a poor decision to rush into a situation they didnt fully research or understand with an equally if not worse decision to treat our fellow MSU students in Dubai very badly.

We would not tolerate this if it were in EL and we shouldn’t any more tolerate this low regard for MSU students in Dubai.

My condolences to any MSU-D students reading this.

@MSUAlum2001

The words were general enough to encompass the other, by which I mean 1, concession you mentioned. That isn’t me assuming anything. Combined with other points raised in the editorial the point is quite clear.

You know, MSU is currently and secretly working on a MSU China campus in 2015. This may be successful if the economy picks up. What do you all think?

Didn’t the students at MSU Dubai get 50% off tuition anyway?