The importance and love of traveling is no foreign concept to many students at California State University, Long Beach.
However, in light of the Paris attacks and terrorist threats around the country, the value of safety has become an important component to students going abroad next semester and to prospective students who plan to travel alongside their course study.
“I really wanted to study abroad, but my parents aren’t allowing me to anymore,” human development major Gabriela Neely said. “Honestly it’s just a different world now, and I wouldn’t feel safe going right now, but maybe in the future when things calm down.”
The International Program advises students to remain educated on current world affairs when faced with the prospects of traveling. The study abroad office does provide safety information for students and emphasizes the importance of doing so.
“For every program for both faculty and students, we have a thorough orientation,” said Jeet Joshee, the associate vice president of international education. “We give safety tips, like a do’s and don’ts of foreign travel.”
Despite the Paris attacks, in which CSULB student Nohemi Gonzalez was killed, the program has not seen a decline in enrollment for study abroad programs. According to the CSULB website, more than 20,000 students have taken advantage of the international program in its existence. The program’s website lists many reasons why studying abroad is important, including degree credits and life enrichment.
“Studying abroad was one of the best experiences of my life,” junior Kelly Smith said, who hopes fear will not prevent students from traveling. Smith studied abroad in London for the spring 2015 semester.
Joshee said that the program is in talks of increasing social media presence for faster and more convenient communication between the school and its students abroad. Joshee also said that the program is in talks of possibly requiring students to have a Twitter handle when studying abroad so they have the easiest form of contact to a student in lieu of phone calls.
Students at CSULB are often highly encouraged by professors, friends and advisors to go abroad.
“When I went to my advisor for registering for classes, he recommended I go abroad,” sophomore Leah Reyes said. “I plan on it, even though my parents really don’t want me to because of the student [Nohemi Gonzalez] who died.”
In conversations between students, questions of security and schedules came up and students wondered if there would be strict itineraries being initiated in the programs. According to Joshee, there will be no decrease in activities or plans to restrict students from them.
“Certainly the hesitation and fear will be there, but we can’t live in the fear. But we can make sure that everything we can do for safety is done,” said Joshee, advising students who may be contemplating studying abroad in light of recent events. “You have to pursue your dream.”