With Crises, Universities Worry About Students Abroad

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/18/nyregion/18campus.html?ref=internationaleducation

The New York Times recently published a story about studying abroad that I thought was very interesting and related directly to our class discussions in the past weeks.  Over 250,000 students travel from the US across country to another country to attend school.  It has been a very popular idea that I know many of my friends/family have done and I eventually would like to do myself.  It is now possible to go to all 7 continents and study abroad.  Recent issues across the world have caused some serious problems for American students attending school in other countries.  Universities all over the US are starting to pull some of their programs and send for current students overseas.  At Temple University in Tokyo 100 American students have left out of the 3,300 students they currently have because of the recent earthquake and tsunami.  Cornell University is worried about their 500+ students they send across country every year.  "Much is at stake for colleges with footprints in other countries: not just students’ safety, but also the schools’ properties, liabilities and reputations."  Some schools are decided to end programs that they have had for many years because it isn't safe for their students and is also not helping the reputation of he school.  Boston University is ending its 20 year-old program in Niger after two French citizens were kidnapped from a local popular bar.
I am surprised that I haven't heard more of this in the news lately.  It scares me a little bit because so many schools are pulling their students out of these programs and sending them back to the US.  It's a pretty serious deal when that happens.  I am very interested in traveling abroad for the future and this could really impact my decision and what I end up doing.  I know this all could change in a matter of days depending on what is going on across the world politically and physically.  I hope that the world can pull it together so that these programs and students can continue.  I guess we will just have to see what happens.