Arizona State University officially cancelled all Spring and Summer 2020 professional programs and global learning experiences, as of March 13.
The difficult decision by ASU hurts students and faculty at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication who had planned a fully immersive reporting experience at the Summer Olympics in Tokyo.
Brett Kurland, Director of the Cronkite News Phoenix Sports Bureau, was supposed to lead 25 Cronkite students on a Study Abroad program from July 20 to August 10.
“We’re disappointed, but it’s a prudent decision given what’s going on the world right now,” Kurland said. “I hope that many of them will be able to join us on our future Cronkite study abroad opportunities.”
The trip included Olympic coverage for written, multimedia and online platforms, as well as “cultural excursions including a sushi-making lesson, a sumo wrestling match, a tea ceremony and walking tours of Tokyo’s vibrant neighborhoods.,” according to the Cronkite school’s Study Abroad program website.
Kurland has worked for numerous media companies covering the Olympics and several Super Bowls and reminds students that there’ll be countless opportunities afforded to them throughout their career.
“I think journalism is a wonderful career path because of all the opportunities that come before us in our career,” Kurland said.
ASU takes guidance from the U.S. Department of State, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other international security intelligence providers.
A statement on ASU’s website said, “Prior to cancelling any study abroad program, we first explore all viable alternatives, including relocating the program to another destination.”
While the program’s fees cover many of the costs, students are encouraged to purchase refundable airline tickets and/or trip cancellation insurance.
“If the program is cancelled before the program’s official start date, students will receive a full refund of all Study Abroad Office fees,” the website said.
While the International Olympic Committee announced July 23 to August 8, 2021 as the new dates for the Olympics on Monday, students are left to wonder if a spot will be left open for them in this opportunity.
Faculty said they’re looking toward future programs, but students feel robbed of an opportunity that not many professional journalists can take part in.
Reagan Smith is a senior at the Cronkite school and was one of the students chosen by the school to cover the Olympics as a digital producer.
Before attending the Cronkite school, he believed that the 2020 Olympics program was the perfect addition to his college transcripts before graduation in December.
“Now, it just kind of feels like a lot that work’s gone for naught,” Smith said.
Since he’s unsure if he will be able to attend the postponed games next summer, he realizes that this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity might have eluded him.
“I think wishfully, I’d like to see them say ‘we’ll still keep a spot open for you because you’d gotten in originally,’” he said.
Patty Vicente is also planning on graduating this December from the Cronkite School and said this program was something she worked and saved for her entire college career. She knew the International Olympic Committee’s decision was inevitable given the current state of this pandemic, but the final word left her gutted.
“You almost hope for it not to, and then when it does happen, it kind of leaves you with this empty feeling,” she said.
Along with more than a handful of students, Vicente is working to make this once-in-a-lifetime experience a reality one way or another.
“Not many journalists can say that they covered the Olympics, much less college students,” Vicente said. “Even if we’re not college students, we’re not going to let this opportunity pass up.”
Contact the reporter at jorteg23@asu.edu.
