Editor:

Your headline about Education Abroad Program on the front page of your Jan. 12 edition had a major error about a new $100 fee ‹ there is no such fee for studying abroad! The article itself is also filled with dangerously misleading and inaccurate information, including most of the entire last column at the end of page 8. I am concerned that this erroneous headline and misinformation will inhibit students from considering study abroad.

The referenced fee is strictly a government-immigration-service-related fee, only for international students and scholars and has nothing to do with studying abroad. Furthermore, at this stage it is only ³proposed² for internationals, and if it goes through, it would be imposed before international students even entered the country, much less UCSD.

The database referenced at the end of your article did not cost $800,000 (more like $60,000) and it, too, is only for international students. Todd Tolin, the A.S. Commissioner of Academic Affairs quoted in the article, contacted me to assure me the amount he mentioned was misquoted. I regret that you didn¹t verify the information he gave you with the International Center, which is a primary source.

Unfortunately, the additional key information I sent to your reporter about our vast number of other non-EAP options was not included in the article. Opportunities Abroad Program is a full alternative to EAP and at least as many students go abroad through OAP as EAP.

We created OAP in 1986 to provide for students who couldn¹t find what they needed on EAP. Last year, for example, we sent 32 students to Australia on EAP and another 35 on OAP. We sent 70 students to Spain on EAP and 73 on OAP. We provide advising, access to federal and state financial aid, special scholarships and a special listing of all courses completed on OAP.

There is plenty more on our Web site about OAP, if you are unfamiliar with it: http://orpheus.ucsd.edu/icenter/pao/ started.html.

OAP will be there to address EAP space limitations this year, as always. In fact, many students start with OAP if EAP doesn¹t have a program in a desired institution, such as the London School of Economics.

I hope it is not too late for all students to consider studying abroad!

– Mary Dhooge

Director, International Center

The Guardian welcomes letters from its readers. All letter must be no longer than 500 words, typed, double-spaced and signed. Letters must also contain a phone number. We reserve the right to edit for length and clarity. Letters may be dropped off at the Guardian office on the second floor of Student Center or e-mailed. Send all letters to: