Admin. cautions students to reassess travel plans

Despite international tension and the spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), students who want to study abroad next year should still apply to international programs and reassess their decision after they are accepted, according to University administrators.

"I'm recommending that students apply anyway because the situation is very fluid and could change by then," said Ruth Aranow, senior academic advisor.

Faculty and student researchers are also encouraged to reassess their travel plans.

"We are asking individuals to self-assess," said James Zeller, assistant provost for budget and planning and chair of the crisis response team. "They should look at where they're going and look at the importance of the reason of the trip."

If the research can be postponed, researchers should consider delaying their travel plans until the international climate settles down, said Zeller. Countries affected by SARS pose an additional risk.

"If it's not essential and the risk is high, then I wouldn't go," he said.

Most study abroad programs will refund students if they decide not to go abroad or to leave early, said Aranow.

Some regions warrant additional re-assessment, said Steven David, associate dean of academic affairs and coordinator of the Woodrow Wilson Research Fellowship program. Countries such as Iran and Iraq do not have American embassies, and other countries, like Uzbekistan and Syria, have American embassies that are not on good terms with the government.

Students visiting such countries should familiarize themselves with the country before they travel and find contacts there in the case of an emergency, said David.

The University also urges students to consult the State Department's Bureau of Consular Affairs Web site at http://travel.state.gov, which provides information about the risks of travel to various countries, Zeller said. The Web site supplies information about the U.S. embassies' relationships with respective governments, transportation services and other travel details.

Rather than giving direct advice, "we're putting that information out there for individuals," said Zeller. "We're not going to second guess the State Department."

But decisions on whether to travel abroad should be made on a case-by-case basis since students deal with crisis situations differently.

"People handle world tension different and some of this has to do with the person's comfort level," he said.

Students should look up the rules and practices of each country they plan to visit since the rules differ according to nation.

"So if you're traveling in different countries you may not have the same experience," he said.

To cope with widespread anti-American sentiment, Zeller said students should plan ahead.

"Some isolated shop owners are not accepting American Express," he said. "So bring back up credit cards."

Despite international tension, David has not seen any students cancel their Woodrow Wilson trips planned for this summer, even though some students are visiting risky areas, such as Uzbekistan.

Nor have students abroad been deterred by the international climate and SARS, said Aranow.

Hopkins students studying abroad this spring have not prematurely returned to the United States due to the outbreak of war and SARS, even though one student is currently in Beijing, according to Aranow.

But the International Education of Students (IES) program in China has ended its program early this year because of SARS, asking students to take their final exams at their home school, said Aranow. No Hopkins students were enrolled in this program.

One student cancelled her plans to study abroad in Italy since her parents were uneasy with her traveling, added Aranow.

"I don't think there is any danger in Italy," said Aranow. "When you hear Baltimore, you can hear danger. If you do things that are risky, they can be risky anywhere."

But the number of students applying to study abroad programs for next year has not decreased. In fact, Aranow has witnessed a slight increase in enthusiasm.

She has students studying in a wide range of countries, such as France, China, South Africa, Australia and even Israel.