‘Send Them Back’ Campaign Sweeps Campus Amid Return of Summer Study Abroad Students

The annual influx of students returning from studying abroad has reached its peak this fall, and locally-educated Aggies are starting to push back. The patronizing reminders of Italy’s authentic espressos, and the random “accidental” Spanish words forced into English sentences, have driven annoyed (and slightly jealous) students to protest these unwelcome study abroad-ers.

In response to the absurdity, the anti-abroad “Send them Back” campaign was created. Hundreds of students are joining the coalition. Early Monday morning, organizers and supporters of the campaign marched around the Academic Plaza with signs reading “If Europe is so Great, Why Not Just Go Back” and “We Don’t Care About Paris.”

The organizers have outlined a relatively seamless procedure to rid the university of globetrotters. The International Class Enforcers, or ICE, will take the names of any student who, upon recently returning from their “enriching” study abroad experience, mentions the country they traveled to without being asked, “accidentally” speaks the language of that country, or won’t stop talking about everything that is better in that country. ICE will then take these students and send them right back to the countries they spent their summers in.

“Every fall, I know what’s coming,” said ICE’s lead organizer, junior Agribusiness major Tammy Johnson. “This summer, my roommate was in Germany for four weeks, and will not stop calling it ‘the Deutschland.’”

The rally consisted of around 400-500 students, but the initiative received backlash.

“Frankly, I’m disturbed,” said junior Education major Bella Dobbs. “This summer was life-changing for me. Eating a chocolate croissant in front of the Eiffel Tower after being mugged at knifepoint was actually a really cathartic experience for me. They will just never get it.” She and her fellow counter protesters held up signs reading “Sorry That You’re Poor” and “The Pasta Is Just Better in Italy.”

“Send them Back” campaign organizers are firm in their mission. They emphasize that they are not anti-study abroad, they’re just “pro-shutting up.”

— Panty Hopping