University of Guelph offering supports for students stranded in Iran
CBC
The University of Guelph says it is offering assistance to help students stranded in Iran after a petition was started asking for more to be done by the school.
Iran is facing a government crackdown on widespread protests, igniting violence and mass arrests. An estimated 2,000 people have been killed so far.
In an emailed statement to CBC News, the university said it is "considering flexible tuition payment arrangements" and even waiving late fees in certain cases.
The University’s Student Experience team is also reaching out directly to Iranian students to ensure they know about available resources, including emergency bursary assistance and counselling services.
"The University of Guelph is focused on supporting members of our campus community who are affected by the situation in Iran," the university said in a statement.
On its website, the school says it has approximately 1,900 international students from over 140 countries enrolled. The university also has a Guelph Iranian Student Association.
The supports come after a petition was launched by fourth year biological science student Erica Firouzbehi, calling on the university to do more for Iranian international students stranded in the country.
Firouzbehi is a first-generation Iranian-Canadian and was compelled to make the petition after her roommate, an Iranian international student, became stranded after visiting family outside of Tehran during the academic break.
"She just wanted to get a hug from her mom, see her brother, see her father. That shouldn't bar her from returning and studying," Firouzbehi said.
The petition outlines five specific actions:
When the petition was launched, Iran was under an internet and communications blackout, leaving Firouzbehi unable to contact her roommate or any relatives.
"My entire family is stuck there," she said at the time. "Not being able to have that access to them is really heartbreaking."
Firouzbehi remembers the final message from her roommate before the blackout began last Thursday.
"She responds with, 'We're safe. But this time everything is different. I can hear their shooting and everyone's out protesting,'" Firouzbehi recalled.
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