Educators and politicians are calling for an increase in study abroad opportunities, saying that the events of Sept. 11, 2001 have lead to an increase in interconnected cultures.

The Strategic Task Force on Education Abroad, part of Association of International Educators (NAFSA), released a report last week supporting a proposal by former U.S. Sen. Paul Simon of Illinois for additional study abroad funding.

The report incorporates a federally funded study abroad fellowship with a directive for educational institutions to make education abroad and the study of foreign languages a priority. The report states that colleges and universities need to better prepare students to live in a world dominated by interconnected cultures.

Inas Messiha, Penn State lecturer in French and Arabic, agreed with the necessity of study in a foreign language and study abroad.

"The best way to get to know someone is to learn their language," she said.

Messiha added that the best way to gain a better understanding of the language was to study abroad.

"Speaking the language for one hour, three days a week for French, or five days a week for Arabic, cannot be compared to living in it," she said.

Despite a recent increase in the study of Arabic at Penn State, there has not been a significant rise in interest to study abroad in Arab-speaking or less-developed countries, said Nicole DiBella, undergraduate peer advising coordinator for the Office of Education Abroad.

Ursula Oaks, spokeswoman for NAFSA, advocated the studying of different cultures, especially those that are not as familiar to American students.

"In the current global environment, we feel that there is a great need for Americans to be educated about other cultures," Oaks said. "We live in a completely globalized world."

Simon said other reports that state the insensitivity of the United States comes across as arrogance are only more of a reason for students to study abroad.

He introduced a proposal for the creation of the Abraham Lincoln Study Abroad Fellowship Program. The proposal stemmed from the disparity in the numbers of U.S. students studying abroad and international students studying in the United States.

Simon added that he had growing concerns about people not accepting other cultures since the events of Sept. 11.

"I have been concerned for some time about the lack of understanding," Simon said.

Oaks said that NAFSA would be making all efforts to gain support for the task force's suggestions and Simon's proposed fellowship.

"We will be working to move all of those recommendations forward. We will eventually be sharing the report with Congress and the executive," Oaks said.

John Keller, director of the Office for Education Abroad at Penn State, said there is always talk about improving study abroad programs, but was not sure if Simon's proposal would pass.

"I'm not terribly hopeful," he said.

However, Keller added that the education abroad office is trying to integrate education abroad into more students' programs of study.

"All universities recommend that students today need to develop global literacy," Keller said.

Abby Oppenheim (senior-telecommunications) studied abroad in London last semester.

"It made me much more aware of people's views toward America," Oppenheim said.

However, she said that budgeting while she was abroad was sometimes a difficulty due to high prices.

"You kind of have to be careful about what you do," Oppenheim said.

Despite the high prices, she is extremely in favor of all study abroad opportunities.

"I really believe that everyone, given the opportunity, should study abroad," Oppenheim said.