Boston University International Programs says it does not plan to cancel its fall program in Haifa, Israel, where rocket attacks have killed at least 10 people, even as many students are canceling plans or returning early from trips to Israel and Lebanon.
“We are still monitoring the situation, and working with students who wish to switch into other programs for the fall, which can be handled without too much trouble,” Haifa program enrollment coordinator Joe Finkhouse said in an email Monday.
At least 381 Lebanese and 36 Israelis have been killed since hostilities began with the July 12 abduction of two Israeli soldiers by Hezbollah forces in Lebanon, according to news reports yesterday. Israeli war planes have bombed sites across Lebanon, including its capital, Beirut, while Hezbollah rockets have struck as far south as Haifa, Israel’s third largest city.
The United States began on July 17 to evacuate American citizens – including some BU students – from Beirut. At least two more students, College of Arts and Sciences sophomore Anthony Guerbidjian, and College of Engineering student Jeff Soto, are still in Lebanon, according to ENG senior David Tayeh, a friend of the two.
Guerbidjian and Soto did not respond to emails.
Although BU does not offer a summer program in Israel, several BU students have been traveling in the region on their own or through non-university programs. Most have since changed their plans or returned home early.
College of Fine Arts junior Rosie Moss arrived home from Tel Aviv last Monday night, cutting short a theater internship because of safety concerns. She had planned on studying at Tel Aviv University in the fall.
“I felt safe in Tel Aviv, but my parents wanted me home,” Moss said in an email. “I’m sure it is for the best that I got out of there, but I can’t help but miss it tremendously already.”
Other students have put their travel plans on hold. CAS junior Jessica Siskind planned to leave Aug. 3 for an Ulpan language program in Haifa before joining the BU program in the fall, but now says she will wait and see.
“I think it is safe to say that I will not be going,” Siskind said in an email sent Monday. “There is a small chance that I will go for the semester, however, it looks like I will either have to go to BU for the semester or another abroad program.”
In a letter posted on its website Sunday, the University of Haifa announced it was moving its Ulpan program to the University of Jerusalem.
It is unclear exactly how many students were in Israel and Lebanon over the summer. BU’s Hillel House was not eligible to send students to the summer sessions of Taglit-Birthright Israel, but Hillel director of student activities Kip Lombardo said several students joined the program through other Birthright-accredited trip organizers.
Though he did not have the firm numbers, Lombardo said “six or eight” students had enrolled in Birthright through Hillel chapters at other universities.
