Students should not fear study abroad after attacks

Given the tragic events of Sept. 11, a natural tendency would be to withdraw unto ourselves, to heal our wounds and prevent exposure to new ones. I pray that we refrain from such a response. In the Office of Study Abroad, our mission is to enhance the internationalization of the undergraduate experience here at Duke. One of the most effective means we have of accomplishing that mission is through encouraging and facilitating undergraduate study abroad. To have the Duke student body avoid study abroad as a result of Sept. 11's tragic events would be a dreadful unintended side effect. As Steve Hendrix, in his eloquent article in the Washington Post Sept. 16, stated, "When will it feel right to venture back out into a world that we're told Owill never be the same?' Friends, it needs to be soon."

Monday, Sept. 24th, the annual Study Abroad Fair will be held in the Bryan Center from noon until 4:30 p.m. We respectfully request that the Duke community support this event as enthusiastically as it has in the past. Please don't let enthusiasm for study abroad be another victim of the aftermath of Sept. 11. Now, more than ever, we need to know our global neighbors.

Margaret Riley

Director

Office of Study Abroad