With fears of global unrest rising due to the war in Iraq and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, UW-Madison's study abroad office is hosting a series of meetings that offer safety advice for students planning to study internationally.
Joan Raducha, director and assistant dean of International Academic Programs, told approximately 20 students who gathered for the first of four meetings Monday that her office monitors the danger levels of traveling in different corners of the globe.
Raducha warned students against traveling at night or alone, attending political demonstrations and wearing clothes with university or American logos.
\These may sound like very much common sense suggestions-and they are-but common sense is what keeps you safe abroad,"" Raducha said.
Raducha said the IAP extended its refund deadline so students can monitor the news before deciding on leaving the country.
""We've added that flexibility because we understand the world situation and you want to have all the information about what's going on,"" Raducha said.
Raducha also said her office maintains contact with students studying in countries stricken by recent cases of SARS.
Many students who attended the meeting said they expect few safety concerns when they start begin their programs.
Sophomore Becky Kuemmel plans to study in Madrid, Spain, next year. She said her Spanish professor eased all her travel worries with an e-mail vouching the safety of travel in Spain after he recently visited the country.
Alisa Huttes, a sophomore who plans to study in Ecuador, said she would take steps to ensure her safety as an American in a foreign country.
""I definitely know I'm going to be taking a lot of precautions when I'm down there,"" Huttes said. ""I'm going to be a lot more careful than I am here.\
