By
Arla Shephard
November 9, 2007
Investigations are still underway regarding the alleged mismanagement of the Jackson School of International Studies summer abroad program in Ghana this past August.
Seventeen students traveled to a rural village in the northern part of the West African country to study sustainable development and modes of empowerment.
As it turned out, conditions weren't what they had expected.
"We were essentially left out there to fend for ourselves," said senior Andrew Rakestraw, a program participant.
Problems arose early on when students realized they were living nearly five miles away from program director Linda Iltis, according to several students who requested to remain anonymous for legal reasons.
Another issue was the availability of food, the quantity and quality of which were sacrificed due to a shrinking budget. The value of the U.S. dollar had dropped since the time the budget was set in March.
"The amount of money they had to offer us wasn't enough to feed us," said one student who asked to remain anonymous. "An average breakfast was small, maybe an 11-inch loaf of sugar bread split between 17 people and a small bit of peanut butter."
Students felt equally discouraged over the lack of academic engagement. Several claimed that Iltis was not involved in the education of the students and rarely supervised any lectures.
"We were extremely frustrated," Rakestraw said. "The lectures were irrelevant to what we were studying and [they were] poorly delivered."
Discontent culminated in the sicknesses several students developed. Of the 17 students, 12 became ill. They claimed their illnesses were improperly handled by the program directors.
"When people were sick, they weren't given proper attention," sophomore Madeleine McKenna said.
Another participant said at least one student became sick every other day.
Because of the severity of their illnesses, some of which included malaria and Dengue fever, eight students were emergency evacuated out of the country, and nine chose to stay and travel on their own accord.
"I realized I needed to get out of there because I wasn't recovering from this sickness, and it was primarily from the lack of food," said another student (who also asked to remain anonymous) who had been sick for nine days. He recovered as soon as he received treatment in the United States.
Upon their return, the students filed a formal complaint to the UW's International Programs and Exchanges (IPE) office to receive their funds back — including tuition, airfare, immunization and visa costs.
A formal investigation conducted by a neutral third party within the College of Arts and Sciences is underway, UW spokesman Norm Arkans said.
"Their goal is to have results by the end of the quarter," he said.
The Jackson School of International Studies said it hopes this situation won't affect future study abroad programs in developing countries.
"We hope we can continue going to all the different parts of the world, including Africa," said Anand Yang, director of the Jackson School. "We're aware that some countries are risky. We also want to make sure that the health and safety of our students are guaranteed."
McKenna said this experience will not deter her from studying abroad in the future, but it will encourage her to do more research on any programs that interest her.
"I was never scared to go there," she said. "It makes me sad that this misled program could limit other opportunities."
Rakestraw was impressed at how his fellow students handled the situation in a "non-emotional" and "diplomatic" way. He said everyone was aware of the conditions inherent in studying in a developing country.
"We knew there was a possibility of getting sick," he said. "We knew there was no electricity and no running water. What we hadn't expected was the mismanagement, the lack of educational opportunities, and the restriction of our food. ... This group of students was the most tenacious group of students I have ever encountered."
[Reach reporter Arla Shepard at news@thedaily.washington.edu.]
15 Comments
#1 Kimberley
on November 9, 2007 at 5:59 a.m.(Baton Rouge, LA | Unverified Name)
Isn't it wonderful to have the United States to run back home to? Think about that next time you start dissing your homeland.
#2 Lauren
on November 9, 2007 at 8:50 a.m.(UW Campus | Unverified Name)
Kimberly, your comment has very little to do with the above article about a negligent study abroad program.
With that said though, I am very grateful to live in a country where I know I will almost always have adequate food and medical care. But just because the US is a better place to live than a developing country does not make it above reproach. Criticism does not equal “dissingâ€. Most people learn the difference after middle school. Even the best thing cannot be made better without exposing flaws. When flaws are exposed they may be worked on. Saying the US is flawless would be a very ignorant, arrogant assertion.
#3 Kimberley
on November 9, 2007 at 10:24 a.m.(Baton Rouge, LA | Unverified Name)
Who said the US is "flawless?" Look at my comment - did I say that? No. That would be stupid, and one thing I'm not is stupid. Ditto your other insults.
With those things said, no better place to live in the world than the U.S. Also, "criticism" is one thing (a good, healthy thing), but outright denigration of the U.S. by Americans happens all the time. Go live someplace else, then.
#4 Alright
on November 9, 2007 at 1:15 p.m.(UW Campus | Unverified Name)
Hi Kimberley. Stop telling other people what to think and do. No one likes you.
#5 Ann
on November 9, 2007 at 2:17 p.m.(UW Campus | Unverified Name)
It's absolutely true, Kimberley's comment doesn't make any sense at all. Then she doubled up when she actually typed out, "That would be stupid, and one thing I'm not is stupid." Eeesh, sorry Kimberley. Maybe try reading the article again..
#6 fred
on November 9, 2007 at 8:16 p.m.(Bloomington, IN | Unverified Name)
Why did you go to the places that you could possibly get sick? I have been to Ghana and, one can live very well there if they are at the right places... What it looks like to me is that you guys chose to go to a poor rural area and, could not handle it! Next time stay at better places...
#7 Rachel
on November 10, 2007 at 9:38 p.m.(Bellevue, WA | Unverified Name)
wow fred, sure sounds like you have no clue what you're talking about. I was on the study abroad and I'm pretty sure that the UW wouldn't have hired a private investigator to analyze the actions of the professors if there weren't serious offenses occuring.
Too bad you weren't there to rescue all of us since you seem to think we were incapable of handling ourselves!
#8 Nina
on November 11, 2007 at 11:28 a.m.(Seattle, WA | Unverified Name)
Also Fred, it's possible for someone from the United States to live safely in a rural area of a poor country- my sister is a Peace Corps volunteer in Mozambique, living in a rural area, and she like many Peace Corps volunteers has not been seriously injured or sick. Also, the article doesn't say that the students thought nobody would get sick, just that the student's sicknesses weren't handled properly by the professor. I have been on 2 study abroad programs with the UW, and you are basically at the mercy of the professor who is leading the program. Student's don't make the plans or arrangements like you would if you were travelling independently and I guess choosing to "stay at better places" and "live very well".
#9 Nina
on November 11, 2007 at 11:28 a.m.(Seattle, WA | Unverified Name)
Also Fred, it's possible for someone from the United States to live safely in a rural area of a poor country- my sister is a Peace Corps volunteer in Mozambique, living in a rural area, and she like many Peace Corps volunteers has not been seriously injured or sick. Also, the article doesn't say that the students thought nobody would get sick, just that the student's sicknesses weren't handled properly by the professor. I have been on 2 study abroad programs with the UW, and you are basically at the mercy of the professor who is leading the program. Student's don't make the plans or arrangements like you would if you were travelling independently and I guess choosing to "stay at better places" and "live very well".
#10 Travis
on November 13, 2007 at 11:43 a.m.(UW Campus | Unverified Name)
So where was the faculty member in charge of this thing staying?
#11 Todd
on November 14, 2007 at 11:05 a.m.(Portland, OR | Unverified Name)
This is such a sad story. I was a great part of the on-going success of this program in Ping. I personally raised countless dollars to fund the project and it was part of an unbelievable opportunity to be a good diplomat, caring student, and was able to touch the lives of students in Ping. The following year I paid for some of the students in the village to be able to finish their school. Yes, some of us got sick and had to be forced to leave but we were all strong leaders by handling the challenges with resolve. I got malaria three times while abroad and never studdered from achieving the goals our project set. The students this summer have tried to tarnish the actual success of this project and its very pathetic. I'm still hoping to revisit Ping at a later time because of its wonderful impact its had on me and our success in putting the unique village on the map of Ghana. By the way, currently the project has 200 students enrolled and is up and running smoothly. Perhaps these students from this summer should think about a bigger picture before going on to hurt the future of the project and its most dedicated invidividuals. All of which is a great concern to the 2005 students and those from years past.
#12 Todd
on November 14, 2007 at 11:05 a.m.(Portland, OR | Unverified Name)
This is such a sad story. I was a great part of the on-going success of this program in Ping. I personally raised countless dollars to fund the project and it was part of an unbelievable opportunity to be a good diplomat, caring student, and was able to touch the lives of students in Ping. The following year I paid for some of the students in the village to be able to finish their school. Yes, some of us got sick and had to be forced to leave but we were all strong leaders by handling the challenges with resolve. I got malaria three times while abroad and never studdered from achieving the goals our project set. The students this summer have tried to tarnish the actual success of this project and its very pathetic. I'm still hoping to revisit Ping at a later time because of its wonderful impact its had on me and our success in putting the unique village on the map of Ghana. By the way, currently the project has 200 students enrolled and is up and running smoothly. Perhaps these students from this summer should think about a bigger picture before going on to hurt the future of the project and its most dedicated invidividuals. All of which is a great concern to the 2005 students and those from years past.
#13 Todd
on November 14, 2007 at 11:05 a.m.(Portland, OR | Unverified Name)
This is such a sad story. I was a great part of the on-going success of this program in Ping. I personally raised countless dollars to fund the project and it was part of an unbelievable opportunity to be a good diplomat, caring student, and was able to touch the lives of students in Ping. The following year I paid for some of the students in the village to be able to finish their school. Yes, some of us got sick and had to be forced to leave but we were all strong leaders by handling the challenges with resolve. I got malaria three times while abroad and never studdered from achieving the goals our project set. The students this summer have tried to tarnish the actual success of this project and its very pathetic. I'm still hoping to revisit Ping at a later time because of its wonderful impact its had on me and our success in putting the unique village on the map of Ghana. By the way, currently the project has 200 students enrolled and is up and running smoothly. Perhaps these students from this summer should think about a bigger picture before going on to hurt the future of the project and its most dedicated invidividuals. All of which is a great concern to the 2005 students and those from years past.
#14 Madeleine
on November 14, 2007 at 11:43 p.m.(Lynnwood, WA | Unverified Name)
Todd, it's great to hear that you had such a positive experience in Ping. However, I don't think it's fair to blame the 2007 Ghana students for being "pathetic" and for supposedly trying to hurt the future of the Ping project. Unfortunately, the 2007 group had very little contact with Ping and altogether was a very different program from the one in 2005. I don't think the two are very comparable. What's more, the 2007 students aren't pathetic for trying to hold the UW accountable for a very poorly managed study abroad.
#15 Thad
on November 16, 2007 at 9:45 p.m.(Mobile, AL | Unverified Name)
This has more to do with the leaders of the program than Ghana which has a reputation as a safe, peaceful, democratic and very hospitable country. Many study abroad programs from US universities have run in Ghana for decades.It is always useful to have a link with a Ghanaian University or a faculty person from Ghana or one who has very sound knowledge of the country.
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