US Students Studying Abroad Face New Security Concerns

Broadcast: Mar¹ 25, 2003

 

In many respects, security has always been an issue for college administrators². Many things can happen to a student while he or she is away at school, things that have nothing to do with war or terrorism, and which could just as easily happen here in the United States as they could abroad. But the cultural and language differences students have to deal with when they study in a foreign country do raise security issues. And Margaret Riley, Assistant Dean of Duke University's Study Abroad Program, said the anger some people are feeling toward America and its policies has also become a source of concern.

"We reminded students of what they should be doing in situations like this, and that's keeping a low profile, avoiding demonstrations³, not going to places where Americans hang out, like Hard Rock Cafes, or the embassy, or things like that," Ms. Riley said.

Duke's not alone in issuing these warnings. Administrators at many schools are advising students to keep a low profile while abroad, and some officials are even thinking of canceling summer programs in the Middle East. Michigan State University, for example, has three students signed up for internships in Turkey this summer. But the director of that school's study abroad program told a local television station those ¹⁾internships may be canceled or postponed⁵, depending upon what happens in neighboring Iraq. Still, college administrators say students are interested in studying abroad now more than ever. And according to Mark Lusk, Associate Provost for International Affairs at the University of Georgia, these students aren't necessarily interested in maintaining a low profile.

"The number of American students studying abroad today is greater than the number of students studying abroad ²⁾prior to 9/11. That is because I attribute this to an increased interest in international affairs and a willingness on the part of students to go out and represent the United States," Mr. Lusk said.

Mark Lusk said his staff monitors the U.S. State Department's web site daily and makes sure students know about any relevant travel advisories⁶ posted there. He also said the University of Georgia has an emergency fund students and their faculty⁷ advisors⁸ can draw on, should they need to get out of a country on a moment's notice. But Americans studying abroad aren't the only students who could be effected by the war in Iraq and the on-going campaign against terrorism. Effie Khn is director of the University of Montana's Foreign Students and Scholars Office. She said the U.S. invasion of Iraq coincided with plans by many foreign students at American universities to leave the country.

"My concern is that they're taking off for Spring Break, so they're going to be spreading all over. So I needed to make them aware that they should be ^3）vigilant⁹ and conscious and careful and have all their documents with them, and expect to (you know) the crossing borders like Mexico and Canada, expect some delays. And to also, you know, help them know what their rights are," Ms. Khn said.

She said most of the foreign students she works with know that increased security measures mean they could encounter some problems when trying to re-enter the United States. But that hasn't kept them from traveling to Canada and Mexico for Spring Break. Ms. Khn also said world-wide protests against the war in Iraq do not seem to have had a negative impact on the number of foreign students looking to study in the United States next year.

 

I'm Maura Farrelly.

 

1)    internship⁴ [`IntE:nFIp]n.<美>实习医师, 实习医师期

2)    prior to先于，在……之先

3)    vigilant [5vidVilEnt]adj.警惕着的, 警醒的

1 mar   

vt.破坏，毁坏，弄糟

参考例句：

• It was not the custom for elderly people to mar the picnics with their presence.大人们照例不参加这样的野餐以免扫兴。
• Such a marriage might mar your career.这样的婚姻说不定会毁了你的一生。

2 administrators   

n.管理者( administrator的名词复数 )；有管理（或行政）才能的人；（由遗嘱检验法庭指定的）遗产管理人；奉派暂管主教教区的牧师

参考例句：

• He had administrators under him but took the crucial decisions himself. 他手下有管理人员，但重要的决策仍由他自己来做。 来自辞典例句
• Administrators have their own methods of social intercourse. 办行政的人有他们的社交方式。 来自汉英文学 - 围城

3 demonstrations   

证明( demonstration的名词复数 )； 表明； 表达； 游行示威

参考例句：

• Lectures will be interspersed with practical demonstrations. 讲课中将不时插入实际示范。
• The new military government has banned strikes and demonstrations. 新的军人政府禁止罢工和示威活动。

4 internship   

n.实习医师，实习医师期

参考例句：

• an internship at a television station 在电视台的实习期
• a summer internship with a small stipend 薪水微薄的暑期实习

5 postponed   

vt.& vi.延期，缓办，（使）延迟vt.把…放在次要地位；[语]把…放在后面（或句尾）vi.（疟疾等）延缓发作（或复发）

参考例句：

• The trial was postponed indefinitely. 审讯无限期延迟。
• The game has already been postponed three times. 这场比赛已经三度延期了。

6 advisories   

n.（有关进展、动向、建议等的）报告( advisory的名词复数 )；公告；通告；通报

参考例句：

• Compliance with Practice Advisories is optional. 是否遵守实务公告由审计师自行选择决定。 来自互联网
• Hardened-PHP: not as such a PHP security information website, but it does have security advisories. 增强PHP:不仅仅是一个PHP安全新的网站，它还提供安全建议。 来自互联网

7 faculty   

n.才能；学院，系；(学院或系的)全体教学人员

参考例句：

• He has a great faculty for learning foreign languages.他有学习外语的天赋。
• He has the faculty of saying the right thing at the right time.他有在恰当的时候说恰当的话的才智。

8 advisors   

n.顾问，劝告者( advisor的名词复数 )；（指导大学新生学科问题等的）指导教授

参考例句：

• The governors felt that they were being strung along by their advisors. 地方长官感到他们一直在受顾问们的愚弄。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• We will consult together with advisors about her education. 我们将一起和专家商议她的教育事宜。 来自互联网

9 vigilant   

adj.警觉的，警戒的，警惕的

参考例句：

• He has to learn how to remain vigilant through these long nights.他得学会如何在这漫长的黑夜里保持警觉。
• The dog kept a vigilant guard over the house.这只狗警醒地守护着这所房屋。