Northwestern Junior Excited to Study Abroad in Lower Middle Class Neighborhood

Evanston, IL—Elise Jensen, a Weinberg Junior studying political science, was overjoyed today upon receiving news of her acceptance to study abroad in a lower middle class neighborhood of Skokie, Illinois. “This is so exciting!” Jensen exclaimed, choking back tears of joy. “This program is so competitive! Of course, that’s to be expected with such a fascinating location.

“It’ll really be interesting to visit an area so culturally removed from life here at Northwestern. I mean, this is an area where people can’t even afford anything more than a road trip for their second yearly vacation,” Jensen added with a slight shudder. “It should be a very sobering experience.”

Jensen is the first beneficiary of a program recently launched by the University that expands their study abroad options to include less frequented areas.

“At Northwestern, we often forget that there are families out there struggling to put three meals, two snacks, and a small desert on the table every day” said Jessica Ward, a student who helped start the program with one of her sociology professors  “But we have to face the realities of this new economy, and the best way to do that is by confronting them head on.”

Some students have reservations about participant safety and comfort on the trips. Sophomore Andrew Isakov expressed concern about the lack of central air conditioning in many houses, as well as the risks posed by having to do one’s own lawn work while on the program.

But Jensen remains undeterred.

“The time to go is absolutely now. Who knows if I’ll ever get the chance to see a standard definition TV again? I have to seize this opportunity before it’s too late.”