As Fall Break approaches, many Penn students will have to travel long distances for the first time since the Sept. 11 attacks.
And some say that they are apprehensive about their upcoming trips.
College freshman Marcie Park said that she had intended to take a train trip to Washington, but has since made other plans.
"I was going to go to Washington, but my parents won't let me," Park said.
And College senior Brenner Thomas said that he is concerned about flying to Florida for a wedding this weekend.
"I'm slightly apprehensive," Thomas said. "I think that everyone's confidence in flying has been shaken a little."
But most students shared the same confidence seen among travelers at Philadelphia International Airport yesterday. College freshman Jeff Goldberg said he is still taking a train trip to Boston even though his parents objected.
According to Goldberg, when his parents said they didn't want to go, "I said, `I don't really care.'"
And Thomas said that even though he was a little nervous, he felt the tight security at airports made air travel safe.
"The rational part of me says this is the safest time to fly," Thomas said.
Adrienne Moore, a College senior who will also be flying this weekend, agreed.
"I think the airlines and airport security are a lot better now," Moore said. "I kind of have the attitude that I'm not going to let this change my life."
Although Goldberg is taking a train, he said he would not have any reservations about flying. However, he added, "I do understand why people would be nervous."
Ken Fomberstein, a College freshman who will be going to Long Island by train this weekend, said if he were flying instead, he would feel secure given the new safety measures at airports. Fomberstein said he would feel even safer "especially since the implementation of the air marshals."
And those traveling by rail said they felt the system's trains were also secure. College freshman Eric Feigenbaum, going to New Haven, Conn., by rail, remained confident of his safety.
"I don't think it will be a problem," he said.
Other students who were not traveling this weekend, but will have to in the coming year, said that the prospect of stepping on a plane is still a frightening one. Kirill Pronine, a Wharton freshman, said he is apprehensive about boarding a plane back to Germany later this year.
"There is a definite fear," Pronine said.
