Last modified: Wednesday, February 20, 2008 1:29 AM EST Wheaton students are cool to suit on study abroad BY TED NESI SUN CHRONICLE STAFF NORTON - A Wheaton College graduate who is suing the school over its billing practices for overseas study programs came under aggressive criticism from her fellow students at a packed student government meeting Tuesday, where there appeared to be little support for the lawsuit on campus. Jenny Bombasaro-Brady, who graduated from Wheaton a few weeks ago, was forced to defend the legal argument behind the suit to dozens of her peers, many of whom said they were not persuaded by her rationale. "I don't think anyone is getting blackmailed to go to Edinburgh or South Africa or Germany," said Austin Simko, a junior. "It's a contract that we enter into of our own volition." Others said they did not want the student government to get involved in the suit. The suit was filed earlier this month in Attleboro District Court by Bombasaro-Brady's father, James Brady, a Hingham attorney. He argued that it is "deceptive and unfair" for Wheaton to make its students pay the full per-semester cost of attending the college even when students attend study abroad programs that are run by outside organizations and are significantly less expensive. "This is something that colleges are doing because they need to make money," Bombasaro-Brady said Tuesday. She argued that Wheaton's policy amounts to "blackmail" and is an unfair use of the school's power over its students. In response, Wheaton Dean of Students Sue Alexander reiterated the college's opposition to the suit. "Wheaton's policy on charges for approved study abroad programs are clearly stated," Alexander said. "They are appropriate and they are also consistent with the college's overall tuition policies." Nearly all of the students who spoke expressed strong support for the college's administration, saying they see the overseas charges as a way for Wheaton to make study-abroad programs available to students who receive financial aid. About 60 percent of Wheaton students study abroad, according to the school. "People are afraid that they're going to lose their study-abroad programs, and they don't want their friends to lose the opportunity, as they did six years ago when you paid your own costs," said Genevieve Scoville, a senior. Bombasaro-Brady argued that the school was not transparent enough about the gap between the cost of the overseas programs and the price of a semester at Wheaton. However, sophomore Eric Ginsburg said he found that information quickly through a link on Wheaton's Web site. At one point, Bombasaro-Brady pointed to a 2007 study by the Forum on Education Abroad, which found that only 18 percent of colleges charge students their full per-semester cost when they go abroad on an outside program. More than half the schools surveyed said their students are only charged the cost of the study abroad program. But most of the students said they did not think the college was abusing its power. "I'm sure if you sit down privately with Dean Sue or President Crutcher, they're more concerned with giving members of our community the study-abroad experience," said Phil Kiley, a junior. Later, however, some students said they did not think the students had given enough consideration to the argument behind the suit. TED NESI can be reached at 508-236-434 or at tnesi@thesunchronicle.com.