Forever Changed

 Forever changed vignettes

* Resolving to grasp opportunity * Sharing the Islamic faith * Heeding a call to serve * Providing a means of expression * Honoring an alumnus, a friend * Helping to tell the world

The Most Reverend Recycler

Calling Their Shots

To Love, Honor & Collaborate

Rookie of the Year

International Waters

	Katie Myers Photo by Rick Fatica

Resolving to grasp opportunity

Katie Myers is refusing to let fear take control of her life.

In February, the sophomore psychology major from Salem, Ohio, will be among five Ohio University students flying to Australia for a six-month exchange program at the University of Newcastle. Her plans were made well before the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Although she says there now are more reasons to be wary, she hasn't changed her mind about going.

"It hasn't put a damper on my excitement at all," she says. "I try to look at the positives."

Myers' determination is typical. "I know of no student who has dropped out of a program because of what happened on Sept. 11," says Director of Education Abroad Connie Perdreau, whose staff monitors the Web daily for travel advisories, including those of the State Department and other study-abroad programs. In the days following Sept. 11, Perdreau's peers in dozens of host countries sent letters assuring University officials that students were in good hands.

Perdreau's office recently instituted a mandatory pre-departure session for education-abroad students. Topics include conduct, health, safety and the need to keep abreast of world events.

"We always go over those things," Perdreau says, "but now we are emphasizing them. We want students to be aware of the international political situation."

Myers has heeded the advice.

"I definitely watch the news more, and I try to read the newspapers as much as possible," she says. "I think it's wise to know about your country when traveling to another, especially when there is this increased focus on American politics."

While the number of study-abroad candidates hasn't dropped, University officials are concerned about how recent events will affect students from other countries considering schools in the States. Of the nearly 1,200 international students at Ohio University this past fall, two returned home before the quarter's end because of relatives' concerns.

Director of International Student and Faculty Services Alan Boyd says the number of students who arrive or return in January after the six-week winter break could be a good indication of future trends, at least in the short term. "We are telling our students to make sure they have all the necessary documents, and we are giving them an enrollment letter," Boyd says. "We don't want to cause panic. There is no way to predict what a person's experience is going to be like."