Students still set to study abroad

Tragedy can happen to anyone, anywhere.

Friday, a bus filled with St. Mary's College students was hijacked in midday on a busy street in Guatemala. Thirteen students and three faculty members were robbed and five women were raped before police arrived on the scene, according to a USA Today article.

This recent incident has introduced difficult questions concerning whether the students from the Maryland college should have made the journey, knowing that bands of gunman have attacked tourists in Guatemala before, according to the article.

Margo Groff, assistant director for Program Support Services in International Education Programs and Studies, 222 Boucke, a program connected with the University Office of International Programs.

"It makes us go to our own planning procedures," said Margo Groff, assistant director for Program Support Services in International Education Programs and Studies, 222 Boucke, a program connected with the University Office of International Programs.

Although tragedies raise awareness about safety measures and planning, Groff said, students should not become fearful of international study and travel.

"It sends shivers down a lot of spines . . . but beyond that, I think, I know, I feel -- and I've heard this from other students -- we will not let this discourage (us from) sending people to study abroad," Groff said. "Our long-term hope is that this (incident) will not steer students away from studying abroad."

Studying abroad allows students to explore diverse cultures, Groff said, and students should make the decision to study abroad after discussing the issue with their families.

"Things can happen anywhere in the world, not just overseas, and that's hard for all of us to face," she said. "If we started to close a wall off from going (to other countries), it would be to our great detriment."

Reflecting upon the incident in Guatemala, Jennifer Goncalves (junior-advertising and Spanish) said although tragedies are frightening, they will not deter her from spending a semester in Salamanca, Spain.

Goncalves, a native of Portugal, said she does not blame anyone for the tragedy. Violence occurs everywhere in the world, she said, and Americans traveling abroad should not think they are safer than the citizens of that particular country.

Tarif Choudhury (freshman-finance) said he was skeptical about the St. Mary's decision to allow students travel to Guatemala, but he did not think this incident should prevent students from traveling to other countries.

"You can't let this discourage you. You can die anywhere. You can die here," he said, adding that he traveled to Denmark in high school and plans to spend time in Japan before he graduates.

To ensure the safety of University students studying abroad, International Education Programs and Studies requires students to take introduction programs before traveling abroad, provides onsite coordinators in other countries to watch out for students and sends student lists to local embassies in the countries where the students are traveling.

Some programs, such as those in Peru and Kenya, have been terminated because of safety concerns, Groff said. Other times, she added, the programs have been suspended, including those in the Middle East. These were suspended when the Gulf War began, but if students want to travel to the Middle East now, they may, Groff said.

No out-of-the-ordinary problems have occurred with the University's study abroad program, she said.

"In my 12 years here, and I'm holding onto a piece of wood, we have not have had a death in the program," Groff said. "We have been very lucky, but we cannot afford to be complacent."