We have nothing but unanswered questions following New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo's subpoena of the AU Abroad office.
Sadly, the allegations aren't very specific. All Cuomo's office told The New York Times was that a variety of study abroad programs may have accepted kickbacks in the form of rebates, free or subsidized travel, help with office or marketing services and seats on administrative boards. Outside of those general accusations, we have no substantial information as to how or whether AU is involved.
Consequently, the most we can do is hope for transparency. AU is sadly no stranger to scandal, and it would be inexcusable if AU administrators weren't open, honest and cooperative with Cuomo.
That means addressing campus community, first and foremost. The Times broke this story on Monday, and AU Abroad has been conspicuously silent ever since. Director Sara Dumont declined to comment on Wednesday, and while her decision is likely the best legal option for the office, it only brings back memories of last year's preferred-lender list controversy, a financial-aid fiasco in which AU (along with many other institutions) was suspected of taking kickbacks for promoting certain loan companies.
We hope AU Abroad is innocent, but we implore students to demand answers. After The Eagle revealed last semester the many concerns that students have with the abroad office, it would be beneficial for Dumont and the rest of AU's administrators to clearly explain their conduct to the hundreds of students who travel abroad each year. We would be enraged to learn if our international experiences (and, in some cases, our misfortunes) were the result of a select, ignorant, greedy few.
