I like it when nice people don't get ripped off. It is very admirable that he's willing to lose the money, and I salute him (and you for raising him that way!) for being caring and kind and willing to help.

All the more reason that I hope the Chinese student can come up with the money so that a good person willing to do a good thing gets a happy ending.

The universe is a better place when people are kind.

😀

...has a good job, at least for someone who majored in art.

He lived with us for about five years after graduating and we didn't charge him anything for doing so, and thus was able to build a significant savings - which was our intent.

It certainly hurts, but if it didn't hurt, it wouldn't strike me as beautiful as it is.

Elon Musk makes probably 50 times more in the lifetime of a fart but I would be disgraced were Musk in my family.

You taught him well to understand the true value of money.

I am proud of him also❤️

responsibility for her actions and sometimes enabling that is not helpful. She's old enough to know that. He should talk to her and get her to own up to her obligations. She could sign a loan agreement. Even if she fails to follow through, that will remind her of the fact that she did that.

She should be able to pay back the loan as she's got an education.

This was down near the bottom:

But that’s jaded me!

...or to erode the need for it, but rather to resist a system of injustice. It is not that the crime is inconsequential but that the possible consequences are potentially inappropriately draconian. The punishment would be inappropriate for the crime.

We left debtors prisons behind centuries ago.

Interestingly my son spent a summer in China on an art grant, and was impressed by the order of the country as well as the kindness of the citizens and the ancient beauty of the culture.

If she goes back to China and lives as she is doing here, she may face consequences appropriate to her offense.

I don't mean this as an endorsement of the Chinese dictatorship, but not all facets are without merit.

...is a better place when people are kind.

It may turn out that the landlord is an understanding person, and maybe he/she will cover your son for the loss. You never know until you try, and June is probably the last month for the lease anyway.

You should be proud of your son because he's sticking up for someone who could be in a bad situation. However the landlord is running a business, and he/she has been using your son as an unpaid employee. The landlord has no right to expect that your son would be financially responsible to cover for any other person who happens to be renting.

The landlord is taking advantage of your son's honesty.

Interestingly she's always putting pressure on the tenants to join her church.

She is an immigrant herself but that has nothing to do with anything.

I have told my son to let the landlord know, whatever that involves.

That would defeat the purpose of the good deed described in the OP.

We have no way to know for sure, but I'd assume that this landlord isn't MAGA. However she is taking advantage of the grad students, especially NNadir's son.

Kindness is the most important of the virtues.

Obviously we don’t want our kids going through life as doormats, but that’s not what this is. It would be terrible to lose the $4k, but it would be so much worse not to be able to look himself in the mirror.

I think your son did the right thing.

with good parents.

To do the right thing.

Your son did, indeed act well. It's a good reflection on his parents!

That said - if this student really were "marginal" and had lost her stipend, keeping her in the US might not be the kindest outcome. It might be better for her to go home and plan another path.

I suppose she could do so from the US, but if she doesn't have a visa, it'll be difficult for her to be admitted to another university.

I am NOT saying she should have been deported. She should be allowed to return home on her own. That's why I really appreciate what your son did.

I am also NOT saying everyone who's overstayed their visa should be shipped straight back home.

But I've seen marginal students stick around long after the soprano has sung, and it doesn't end well.

Of course, it's not your son's place to counsel her in this respect. This is between her, her family, and any support network she has in the US.

Not in wealth, but in character.

Well done mom and dad.