Students remain enthusiastic about learning overseas in spite of recent events

RELEASED: November 15, 2001

DANVILLE, KY— For years Centre College has been a leader in international studies, and this hasn't changed in the aftermath of Sept. 11.

A report released Tuesday from the Institute of International Education recognized Centre as one of the top 11 schools in the percentage of its students studying abroad at some point in their college careers. And according to a recent survey, 86 percent of the Centre students interviewed said they plan to take part in international study in spite of the terrorist attacks on America and the conflict overseas.

"I was planning to go to both Israel and Germany this summer. I thought about it and decided that to not travel meant that the terrorists had won, so I'm still going to go," said senior Rebecca Grossman of Louisville.

No students returned from their fall-term international study programs after Sept. 11, and no students have pulled out of the winter- or spring-term programs. Centre has 131 students planning to study overseas in the winter and spring terms.

"Our students remain highly enthusiastic about studying overseas," said Milton Reigelman, Centre’s Director of International Programs and Cowan Professor of English. "We are pretty unique in that we stay in touch with the students overseas and the parents."

Reigelman added that what makes Centre's programs different from some of those at other colleges and universities is that a Centre faculty member with significant knowledge of that region of the world lives at the site, teaching and coordinating special trips and other activities.

Centre offers three-to-four-month programs in England, France, Japan and Latin America. Shorter trips have included the Bahamas, Central African Republic, India, Turkey, Israel and Vietnam.

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