By Laurie Babinski and JJ Bowman
Editor in Chief and Staff Writer
A U.S. government terrorist alert struck uncomfortably close to one of Pepperdine’s homes yesterday when the State Department said Americans in Florence, Italy, should be on heightened alert for possible Easter Sunday terrorist attacks.
The U.S. government’s warning specifically mentioned “civilian targets” and “places of worship” and “schools,” among other possible locations. The alert set Pepperdine’s international programs in motion to protect students with increased security and travel precautions.
Despite the extra security, students in Florence are shaken with the thought of attacks possibly hitting so close to their home on foreign soil. “I almost feel more vulnerable now that I did on Sept. 11,” said junior Sarah Gulick. “I wish I knew more about it.”
According to Florence students, Pepperdine would not be as prominent a target as New York University, which is nearby and houses 450 students. Pepperdine guards will be placed at both entrances from midnight on Friday night until Monday night at midnight. Dean of International Programs William Phillips declined to specify further procedures to ensure the safety of the students.
But even with the added precautions, students are concerned about attending Sunday services, including one of Italy’s most popular services in Florence that is capped by a mechanical dove being released into the Piazza del Duomo. The dove then explodes in the air as part of a centuries-old tradition.
“I don’t know if I should get out of Florence that day,” sophomore Faren Visinten said.
But celebrations are not limited to Florence, and students are wary of traveling to any of the other three destinations on the State Department’s list of possible targets released Wednesday: Venice, Milan and Verona.
Rome, although not on the list of cities to beware, concerns many students as well. Six students plan to travel to Rome to witness the Pope say Easter Mass, but now some may reconsider. Students also fear train travel, citing a terrorist attack in 1985 in which 85 people were killed when a train exploded.
The group responsible for that attack, the Red Brigade, has claimed responsibility for the murder last week of Marco Biagi, a leading Italian economist and government adviser.
Florence program director Elizabeth Whatley said that this history plays a large role in these threats. “You have to understand the History of the Red Brigade,” she said. “They were active in the late 70s and 80s and most noted for the bombing in Bologna. They resurfaced last week when they killed the Minister of Labor, Biagi.”
Despite the threat, Whatley believes that Pepperdine is taking the best precautions possible. “We all are (Italians and Americans) at the same level of being vulnerable,” she said.
According to Florence students, many people there believe that this warning has more to do with the Red Brigade than with any group associated with Sept. 11. Although the origin of the threat has not been confirmed, the Associated Press reported that the government believed the source to be credible. Wednesday night, the reports of the warnings were one of the lead stories on virtually every cable and network news stations.
Students in Florence are comparing the current situation with a threat last September and October against tourists attending Oktoberfest in Munich. Some students chose attend despite warnings from Pepperdine.
Students are being advised not to attend Easter mass at the Duomo in Florence, however, and to avoid large crowds in general this weekend. According to Phillips, the students are free to travel and are not restricted to the Florence Villa.
“We advise our students not to stand out as Americans and to avoid those places where American tourists gather,” Phillips said. “They are asked not to wear clothing with U.S. flags on it, baseball caps turned backwards, etc, and not to call attention to themselves by speaking loudly in public places or acting rudely. This advice was been given to our students long before this year.
Phillips sent a letter to Florence students’ parents Wednesday assuring them of their students’ safety.
Florence is one of four Pepperdine academic year programs. The city is a popular study abroad destination, with other American universities including NYU near the Pepperdine facilities. According to the State Department, Italy is a developed democracy with a modern economy with occasional violence usually tied to social issues.
Some of the 45 Pepperdine Florence students say they are determined not to let the warnings stand in their way.
“I will not live in fear,” junior Rob Garey said.
March 28, 2002