My brother's getting married!

Pretty cool huh? http://danielandsoo.com/

www.Longwood-University-Sucks.org

In my previous post I already told you that the Longwood University Administration drove me crazy.

I've decided to pay their $35.15. But I'm not going to let them steal $160 from my roommate and me, without saying anything. I've already written the president and several other administrators @ Longwood - but they don't seem to care.

Since I can't really escalate the issue to anyone else, or complain to the FTC / BBB (Longwood isn't a company), I'm doing the only other thing I really can - starting a website. It's online at www.Longwood-University-Sucks.org. On the site I chronicle my frustrations with Longwood, and encourage others to do the same.

From what I can tell, starting this website is the only way to get the Longwood administration to listen to its students.

It looks like it's getting some use. Right now there are about 25 "horror stories" - descriptions of horrible experiences Longwood University students have suffered through.

I think I'm going to take the $160 Longwood took from us, and put it towards online advertising for the site. Hopefully this will get the administration's attention.

Who knows, maybe we'll even see some positive change?

Longwood University - some of the reasons they drove me crazy

So I'm kind of ashamed to be posting this - but I'm really bothered by Longwood University's administration. Their the essence of a bloated, bureaucratic organization that really doesn't care about its client - the student body. They accomplish this through a myriad of rules and regulations which they thoughtlessly enforce. This creates tremendous amounts of collateral damage for students.

For example, it's almost impossible to learn something new or excel above & beyond their peers (it's usually expressly prohibited):

• I couldn't explore wireless (WIFI) technologies, because wireless networks are expressly prohibited


• I couldn't use antennas for satellite or radio signals, because antennas are prohibited


• I couldn't build a internet server, because only one device can be connected to Longwood's network at a time. The reprimand you for just having networking equipment in your room - even if you're not using it.


• Before I came to Longwood, I supported myself with my internet businesses (OdioWorks, LLC). I couldn't run it @ Longwood, because running a business out of your dorm room is prohibited. Instead, they recommended I shut it down and work for minimum wage at Longwood (let's see - $20,000 in tuition, living expenses, & taxes - that's about 74+ hrs / week)


• And to really add insult to injury, they won't let you have a car until Sophomore year and won't let you move off campus until your Junior or Senior year (meaning you're stuck living in their world for the majority of your college career).

These are just some examples of the collateral damage caused by the thoughtless enforcement of Longwood's regulations. I learned about each of those rules the hard way. I tried to do each, not knowing I couldn't, and was severely reprimanded by the University each time.

But what really put me over the edge was Longwood charging my roommate and me $160 in illegitimate fees when we moved out of our dorm room. They took my damage deposit, but still wanted $35.15 more. After writing about 6 letters to the Longwood Administration, they refused to drop the charges. They even threatened to report me to the credit bureau if I didn't stop disputing the charge and pay up! What?! Report me for $35.15?!?!?!

I'm pretty sure that's bad business - most companies would NEVER get away with that. In business, when the customer writes to the president complaining about a balance of $35.15, you refund it - no questions asked. It's a lot cheaper than dealing with an angry customer. Or in Longwood's case, an angry student.