Harvard reverses decision on winter break housing

Local News

Students expressed outrage at the university after it initially rejected dozens of international students’ applications to stay on campus over break.

The Harvard College Housing Office has offered on-campus housing for winter break to international students whose requests to stay had initially been denied. 

An email sent to dozens of international students at the college on Monday afternoon said the Housing Office decided to “reconsider” students’ recent applications, according to The Harvard Crimson. Administrators apologized for “any misunderstanding that may have been caused by the inconsistency in language we used around the criteria in making these decisions.

“We understand that this led to confusion as students were planning for winter recess. Please know this was never our intention, and we hope that this update decision is helpful to you,” the email, which The Boston Globe shared, reads. 

It did not explain why their applications were initially rejected, nor what led to the reversal of the earlier decisions. The university did not respond to a request for comment. 

The university faced backlash for its decision from alumni and faculty. An online petition calling on Harvard to address the situation circulated, collecting 337 signatures. In comments on the petition and on the Crimson’s Instagram post about its article about the rejected applications, people conveyed their concerns. 

“As an alum of Harvard, I am appalled that they would refuse to house international students during the winter break,” one commenter wrote on the petition. “Knowing the lack of affordable housing and high living expenses in the area, I have no idea what excuses they have to justify subjecting these students to financial and personal hardship during the winter break.” 

And others suggested solutions: “I live off campus and have empty rooms over winter break,” commented a user on the Crimson Instagram post.

Students expressed relief to the Crimson that Harvard listened to those advocating for winter break housing.

“I guess the lesson learned is that when we are frustrated and there’s a decision that doesn’t make sense, we should mobilize, and we should make a petition, and we should talk to the media — because apparently that’s all Harvard cares about,” said Pedro Rocha Frazão, a Harvard international student interviewed by the Crimson.  

But some also shared frustration, like one student, Sarra Guezguez, who bought a plane ticket home for more than $1,600 because she didn’t have a place to stay here. 

“Now we have access to the dorms, but that money will not be refunded,” she told the Crimson.