grizwillwin said:
I still want to know more about the administration's handling of the Saudi exchange student's escape home. The silence by the missoulian is deafening. Were there fears of international repercussions? Or was it just a rich sheik's kid?
My opinion: Probably international considerations, if not repercussions. This was out of Engstrom's & UM's hands. The State Dept. was involved, I'm sure. Foreign students are under international protocols between the U.S., the country, and the institution. It could well be that Saudi students are an exception to standard protocol when a foreign student violates U.S. laws. For example, would a German or Chinese student have been treated the same way? It's telling that Mehrdad Kia, the UM director of international programs, has resigned for reasons we'll never know.
Secondly, I see this as a cultural issue: It's entirely possible the accusers were Saudi students, as well. One incident occurred at the international house where some foreign students stay. In Saudi Arabia, what this kid did might have been permissible, regardless of what any one of us thinks re: Saudi customs. The kid simply forgot where he was. If the girls are Saudi, too, they may be back home, as well.
Third, it's entirely possible the Missoulian isn't following up because it's as ignorant as we are & probably knows only a little more than we do in deciding not to pursue this story, and we just as well stop gnawing on this particular issue as further evidence of a UM screw-up.
This is all my opinion, conjecture, speculation, etc. But, it's useless to continually come back to this issue, and I wish eGrizzers would drop it, as it has nothing to do with Griz football players, coaches, and the program.
