Student Deported after Violating Study Abroad Social Media Contract
DUBLIN - SESP senior Katherine McDougal was deported from Ireland this week after failing to meet the social media requirements laid out in her study abroad agreement.
The contract, organized by Northwestern University's study abroad program and scenic Ireland's Department of Tourism, stipulates a mandatory social media presence for any student studying abroad. Requirements include twenty (20) Facebook statuses, three (3) airport check-ins and at least one (1) photo album, consisting of a minimum 600 pictures promoting Ireland's gorgeous countrysides and rich culture, intended to promote tourism and commerce for the country.
McDougal, who had been in Ireland since June, effectively terminated her study abroad program when she posted only 30 photographs on Facebook of her visit to the GUINNESS STOREHOUSE®, Ireland's number one visitor attraction, within a 15 minute window.
The violation occurred during a fifteen (15) day probationary period following a prohibited defamatory Tweet (which has since been deleted) reading, "[crying Emoji][crying Emoji][rain on umbrella Emoji] Ireland's weather suuxxx [sic]."
"I can't believe I'm being sent home," reported an emotional McDougal. "I had been posting at least 60 pictures a day and even including the names of all of the locations in the picture descriptions, just like the contract said."
According to McDougal, the violation of the contract was unintentional. "I thought that 30 pictures of the Guinness Storehouse would be enough. I didn't want to post too many nearly identical pictures of Ireland, you know?"
"We're really sad that Katherine has to leave," reported Naomi Hess, a close friend of McDougal who met the contract's requirements by posting forty-five (45) pictures of the attraction. "All of us doing study abroad have been posting pictures of every single place we go and every meal we eat just to make sure the same thing doesn't happen to us. We're even exceeding the "#nofilter" requirement in the Instagram clause."
At press time, McDougal had posted a Facebook status approved by Ireland's Department of Tourism, saying that, "Ireland's historic and unique scenery was beautiful...the friendly people I met, the traditional food I ate and the rocks I kissed...everything was absolutely perfect. I will never forget the memories I've made :) For more information on my life-changing trip, visit http://www.ireland.com/en-ca."
