Study Abroad programs comment on the conflict in Iraq
By KEVIN ALLEN
News Writer
The commencement of large-scale military action in Iraq by the United States and Britain stirred a great deal of emotion on Notre Dame's campus in the past week. In addition to anxiety about the well-being of the nation and the soldiers on the battlefields, considerable concern arose about the safety of Notre Dame students spending the semester abroad.
Tom Bogenschild, director of International and Off-Campus Study Programs, said the office of International Study Programs is very concerned about possible hostility toward American students but has not yet put any restrictions on travel or other activities for students abroad.
"We think the local administrators are much better equipped to make those decisions than we are," Bogenschild said.
He added that it is highly unlikely that any programs will be closed this semester or that students will be forced to return to the United States before the end of the semester.
"Ever since Sept. 11, we've been very concerned about security issues," said Bogenschild.
Those events have increased concern for students participating in the University's program in Washington, D.C. — the only city to which Notre Dame sends students that has been hit by international terrorism.
ISP has also been keeping a close eye on travel advisories from the United States and abroad and has been in contact with international studies programs from other universities.
"We have not heard of any major security problems at any of [Notre Dame's] sites," said Bogenschild.
ISP recently added a "Security Update" link to their website for students and parents to access information on the atmosphere abroad. The U.S. State Department and various American embassies have also been sending information to students.
"We have been receiving advisories from the State Department all semester," Padraic McDermott, a junior who is spending the semester in London, said. "And the London Program sent us an e-mail about precautions to be taking on our spring break, as well as a strong suggestion that we might avail ourselves of the opportunity to travel inside the United Kingdom, and not further abroad."
All of the students contacted for this story said they still feel safe and welcome in their host countries and that they do not have any plans to return home early due to the recent developments in the Middle East.
With the closure of the Jerusalem Program, the ISP site that is closest to the war in Iraq is in Cairo, Egypt. Junior Terry Fitzgibbons is participating in the Cairo Program, and said that he feels very safe in the Arab nation and has felt no hostility from any Egyptians.
"Because there are a lot of visitors and foreign students [in Cairo], people here
always ask you where you're from," said Fitzgibbons. "When I tell them, they usually sigh and smile at the same time, and [say] they like me but they don't like Bush."
Fitzgibbons said he receives messages from the American embassy to avoid crowds and to vary his patterns.
"We were advised not to go downtown near the protests," Fitzgibbons said. "Staying out of the way of the protests, I haven't felt threatened."
In spite of heightened tensions abroad, Fitzgibbons added that he is still happy to be witnessing the events from another nation.
"I'm witnessing history," he said. "And this is history, for better or for worse."
Tom Marotta, a junior spending the semester in Shanghai, China, said he feels very welcome in his host country, despite military conflict with Iraq.
"I haven't felt any animosity from either the Chinese authorities or the average Chinese person on the street," said Marotta. "I have been asked my opinion about the war by Chinese students and heard some anecdotes from other Americans being asked their opinions. Most Chinese are against the war and anti-Bush, but still pro-American.
"I've had more hostile conversations with my fellow American students here about how the United States ought to proceed," Marotta said.
Unlike Fitzgibbons and Marotta, students in the London Program find themselves among America's most loyal allies. But that also exposes them to a greater terrorist threat.
"With the talk of imminent terrorist attacks, it is hard to view London as the safest place to be," Dominic Paschel, a junior who is spending the semester in London, said.
McDermott said he will be changing parts of his daily routine due to the threat of terrorism.
"I think I'm not the only one who will be trying to avoid public transportation a little more actively," McDermott said.
Meghanne Downes contributed to this article.
All News Stories for Monday, March 24, 2003
