ATHENS, Ohio -- The Study Abroad Fair kicked off the week of Oct. 15 offering Ohio University students a chance to check out various university and non-university programs across the globe.
According to Connie Perdreau, director of the Office of Education Abroad, the recent terrorist attacks and current Middle East conflict haven't affected student interest in the program.
"We have over 100 students in programs right now and none of them returned home," she said. "We are currently getting ready for our winter intersession and winter groups and are going on as usual."
Perdreau said all of the programs send students where there is no known threat to American citizens. The Education Abroad office is on the State Department listserve and a listserve that connects program directors across the country and globe.
Perdreau said that the listserves allow directors to talk everyday and to know of any problems with any student abroad that same day.
"We tell our students what the State Department tells us, to be more vigilant and cautious," she said. "We have faculty directors with our Ohio University programs and we have been in contact constantly, especially in the last few weeks, and they said that everything is going fine."
Perdreau added that one program takes students to Lebanon during the summer but that the office monitors the situation to ensure student safety. They will follow the same precautions for the coming summer program.
Students attending the Study Abroad Fair in the Baker University Center Ballroom said that although they are more conscious of their travel destination since the September 11 attacks they haven't changed their mind.
"It changed my awareness of where to go and the cultures that will be there," said Kiara Husband, a sophomore who plans to go to Africa or France. "But not as far as flying."
Jill Carey, a freshman business major, said that flying isn't a problem for her either.
"I'm definitely more apprehensive, but as long as (the situation) is somewhat stable when I go, I still want to," she said.
According to Perdreau, the office hasn't noticed any significant decrease in student interest in any of the programs.
"So far, so good. They still want to go to English speaking countries and countries with foreign languages," she said. "In fact, our summer business programs are already full."
