ELON, N.C. — An Elon University student is back at his Connecticut home after his study abroad program was canceled because of the coronavirus.
Jason Luty says he got the email Tuesday night.
"We got an email from Elon administration saying that our semester program was suspended and I was just in total shock," said Luty, "in the email, Elon said you should start making your plans Friday night. You should leave the country by Friday."
The news comes after a growing number of cases in northern Italy. The University said 21 students and one faculty member will return to their homes from Florence this week.
The University made the decision earlier this week after the number of confirmed coronavirus cases increased to more than 300 within a matter of days in Italy.
The students got to Italy in January and were supposed to wrap up their international studies in May.
“This was a difficult decision for the university to make, given that these students were already immersed in these important global experiences,” said Woody Pelton, dean of global education. “However, the health and safety of students is our top priority. Given the uncertainty about the spread of the virus and its anticipated impact on travel and our academic program in Florence, we decided it was best to bring these students home as soon as possible.”
Luty says everything was business as usual where the Elon students were saying, so the thought of leaving never crossed their minds.
"Everyone was calm. Everything was fine, so we just felt like it was a complete shock. We didn’t feel like anything was out of the ordinary," he said, "We knew the risk the virus posed, but we didn’t feel like it posed any sort of threat to the Elon students."
Luty says he started booking his travel plans home. After a long few days of travel, he still can't wrap his head around the fact that he's no longer in Italy.
"I still really can't process it. It seems unreal the fact that this is something I'm home and I'm relieved to be home because it's been such a stressful couple of days but I don’t wanna be home," he said.
Elon University says they're working through the details of reimbursing the students for their studies.
Luty says he's happy to hear students will be getting some of that money back. However, he says some of the students booked weekend trips in Europe they likely won't be reimbursed for.
Altogether he says you can't put a price on experience.
"I feel like I cant be reimbursed for the potential opportunities I would miss being abroad," he said.
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