Safety for BU Students Studying Abroad in Israel and Egypt

In the past few months two major developments have rocked the majority of the Arab world.  In January, the Hamas party was declared the winner of the Palestinian election, increasing the likelihood of continued violence in Israel.  Also in current events, Danish cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed have provoked violent protests and uproar all across the Arab world.  These two recent events have made it extremely dangerous for Westerners to travel to Arab countries, including college students studying abroad.  Many Boston University students intending to travel to areas such as Israel and Egypt, two countries BU offers programs in, are wondering what safety precautions are being taken to ensure their safety through the BU study abroad program.

"As for all students on BU programs, their health, safety and security are our primary concerns," Division of International Programs administrator Ben Dewinter said. "For programs in Israel and Egypt, as for all of our sites, we have put together health, safety, and security plans and a wealth of information available to students and their families, some of which is available on our web site at www.bu.edu/abroad/health/#prep."  Dewinter explained that the Division of International Programs is constantly refining and improving their safety and emergency planning for BU students traveling abroad.

With the election of the Hamas party to power, tensions with Israel are rising, and violent protests continue to erupt throughout Arab countries over the insulting cartoons depicting the Prophet Mohammed making Egypt and Israel dangerous places to travel for the upcoming summer and fall semesters.  The Division of International Programs said, however, that they are ensuring the safety of students who still wish to travel there.

"In both Israel and Egypt, we partner with universities which have offices and staff dedicated to dealing with international students, including students on the BU programs," Dewinter said.

Current events taking place in other parts of the world is something that many students, as well as their parents, keep in mind when deciding on a country to study abroad in, however, many students claim they would still very much like to travel to Egypt and Israel despite these troubled times.

"Yes (I would still travel to Egypt or Israel) because I am still fascinated by the historical and religious sites there," CAS Junior Karin Oung said.

Other students claimed that they would travel to the Middle East particularly during these times to better understand conflicts occurring far away from American soil.

"I would definitely go," CAS Freshman Matt Toulme said.  "I would rather be able to see the conflict there firsthand and actually be able to talk to a Palestinian and a Jew living there."

Although the majority of students claim they would still travel abroad to Israel or Egypt, many still said that their personal safety would be a large factor.

"I think safety is still really important," Oung said.

The Division of International Programs gave some advice to students who are considering traveling to Israel or Egypt in the near future.

" Ultimately, students and their families are the ones who must make the decision about study in any location, anywhere in the world," Dewinter said.  "Students and their families should pay particular attention to current affairs, and should follow the precautions suggested by the US. Department of State, as well as the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Canadian Foreign Affairs Office, all of which offer intelligent and reasonable advice on travel to and living in these regions. We provide students in these programs with as much information, from as many sources, as we can."

Dewinter also said BU works with host universities in the Middle East who help ensure the safety of international students.

"Our host universities in the Middle East, the University of Haifa and the University of Alexandria, deal with security on a daily basis," he said.  "Security is part of their daily reality."

Given the current geopolitical climate and the East vs. West ideology, many BU students feel it is very important for American students to travel to such countries as Israel and Egypt to witness the conflicts occurring there and to experience a culture that is so vastly different from their own.

"I don't think you can really know what a culture is like without actually traveling there," CAS Junior Christine Chung said.

Toulme agreed with Chung's statement claiming that students should not let ignorance or fear stand in their way of traveling to the Middle East.

"What better way to learn about one of the biggest conflicts of our lifetime then to see it firsthand rather than reading about it in newsprint or hearing about it on bias TV networks," he said.