Senior CoraAnn Marksberry waited impatiently Sunday night in the Student Center to sign up for the London Center Study Abroad program. Thinking that the Center for International Programs office wouldn’t open until 6 a.m. Monday morning, she arrived around 10 p.m. to camp out all night.
For spring, there are only 45 spots available in the London Center and 42 spots available in the Australia Center. The Center for International Programs was scheduled to open for sign-ups at midnight on Sunday.
“I will cry if I don’t make it because I don’t have anywhere to live next semester,” Marksberry said as she waited.
Luckily for Marksberry, the sign-up started much earlier than expected, and she made the cut.
Jim Coffin, director of the international studies program, said students had been camping out since 10 a.m. Sunday morning to sign up for the limited number of spaces.
He said many students had brought sleeping bags, computers and games to entertain themselves during the long wait through the day.
Coffin said he took pity on the students, however, and since they would have been first on the list anyway, he let them sign up earlier in the day so they could leave.
When Coffin arrived back at the office around 11 p.m. for the rest of the students to sign up, the hallway was packed with students.
He said last semester was the first time students had ever camped out to sign up for study abroad.
“It’s becoming a tradition now,” he said. “It’s fun.”
As of Monday afternoon, there were only six open spots for the London Center and four open spots for the Australia Center, Coffin said.
He said he was sure those empty spots would be filled quickly and a waiting list would be started.
“I’ve had 74 people come to me to get information on London Center and 64 for Australia Center,” Coffin said. “They really are loyal once they get in here.”
Marksberry said she thought fewer people would be interested in going to the London Center because of the recent bombings. She, however, said she isn’t scared of the trip and is looking forward to it.
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