For many members of the University's geographically diverse community, air travel is a necessity.
But for some, last Tuesday's deadly terrorist attacks have turned previously routine trips into frightening ones.
A few, like College graduate student Mary Mitchell, have considered staying around campus for winter break rather than boarding a plane home.
"I hate flying anyway," Mitchell said.
Mitchell isn't too encouraged by recent security increases.
"Reading the security measures that have been put into place, I don't think they're going to do much," Mitchell said. She remains concerned "because security is run in such a decentralized fashion."
The first-year graduate student also said that she won't be happy until the federal government increases its presence in airports.
Other students were less apprehensive, but still nervous about flying. Wharton graduate student Paul Fredenberg intends to fly in December, but said he is concerned about his initial reaction.
"I'm thinking I'll be a little jittery," Fredenberg said. "I think I'll be doing a double take, looking around for anyone suspicious."
Engineering sophomore Sandip Saha, who will be flying to Detroit during winter break, said that he hoped the span of time between now and his flight would allow things to return to normal before he makes his trip.
"I haven't really thought much about it," Saha said. "Hopefully the phase will pass in four months."
Wharton senior Philip Ting also said that the months until winter break will give him plenty of time to get over his fears.
He did jest, however, that if his flight were tomorrow, he may opt to go to his hometown of Los Angeles by train.
"If it was an immediate thing, I'd probably be a little worried," Ting said.
Still, other Penn students said that they were not concerned at all, particularly with tighter security now in place. Graduate student Edward Kennedy said that he would not hesitate to fly.
"I'm not afraid of dying," Kennedy said.
But even with his high level of confidence, Kennedy said that increased security -- namely federal air marshals on flights -- would be a good idea.
"I'd feel a lot better" if the air marshal program is strengthened, Kennedy said. "I've thought that for a long time."
