Israeli bombings force students to return home

One Engineering student, six students from the School of Nursing and 29 students from the College and Wharton began the spring semester studying abroad in Israel. But nine of the 36 have decided to return to the United States this week as a result of the recent bombings in Israel, according to Office of International Programs Director Joyce Randolph. And a management program for Wharton MBA students, slated to depart for Israel today, was cancelled yesterday due to the number of students who have decided to back out of the trip. Izzedine al Qassam, the military wing of the terrorist organization Hamas, has bombed Israel four times in nine days, claiming the lives of four bombers and 57 others. The most recent bombing occurred Monday in Tel Aviv, killing 14 people -- half of them children. The Nursing students -- all of whom are returning -- will be able to begin classes at Penn after spring break, according to Kristin Davidson, assistant dean for administration in the Nursing School. Randolph explained that Nursing has made "arrangements for the students because they're in a special program." The other three students returning this week will receive a 90 percent tuition refund because Israeli university classes just began this week, according to Randolph. "We're in our eighth week of classes at Penn, so it's virtually impossible for students to return and pick up courses at Penn for credit," she said. The University has been keeping in touch with the abroad students via electronic mail and telephone, Randolph said. But she added that OIP has been relying on Resident Director Ann Killebrew to "channel students' queries" to the office and inform OIP of changes in students' situations. Killebrew, who is pursuing a doctorate degree at Hebrew University, is responsible for advising students academically and personally, Randolph explained. "[Killebrew] has been in regular contact with all the students and we have kept in close contact with her," she said. Nursing junior Becky Cross returned home to California yesterday from Israel. "It just got to be a bit much; four bombings in eight days is kind of a lot to deal with," she said. "And it doesn't seem likes things are getting any better. "I'm sad that Hamas won and that we left," she added. Cross said that all of the Nursing students are already home and that she will be able to receive three credits for the rest of the semester at Penn. Randolph added that OIP staff members telephoned the parents of the overseas students Monday night to discuss University policy on returning early and "to see how the students are." Parents reported that students "are concerned, anxious and distracted, but by and large want to stay," according to Randolph. "In many instances, the parents are much more anxious than the students," she said. "They would like to persuade their children to come home." Randolph said Israeli universities have improved security and instituted special counseling programs for foreign students in response to the bombings. And Annabel Belgaumi, the University's principle study abroad advisor for Israel, left for Turkey yesterday with OIP Assistant Director Geoffrey Gee. They will be meeting Asian and Middle Eastern Studies Professor Everett Rowson there to explore the possibility of a new overseas program, and will then travel to Israel on Sunday, according to Randolph. Despite, the bombings, Randolph said OIP received a record number of study abroad applications "across the board" for the 1996 fall semester. Cross said she is eager to return to Israel, though not soon. "After Monday, I think I was a little bit afraid," Cross said. "You don't know when and you don't know where. "I want to be in Israel -- the people there understand what we went through," she added. "It's very different being an American -- we can leave."

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