By Sarah Pye
Staff Writer
After purchasing tickets to Istanbul and then learning that International Programs would not permit travel to Turkey and Egypt, many students in the London program argued that their money and the opportunity to see different lands would go to waste. Now, however, International Programs has reversed a decision that said the two nations were too unsafe for travel with the United States on the brink of war with Iraq.
Questions over Pepperdine International Programs students’ ability to travel to certain locations were cleared up Wednesday when Dean of International Programs Dr. William Phillips announced the university is not currently imposing restrictions on student travel to Turkey and Egypt.
In an e-mail sent to International Program directors on Feb. 20 by Phillips, students studying in the European programs received word they were “currently forbidden to travel” to certain areas in the Middle East, including Egypt and Turkey.
The warning against travel to this region came, according to Phillips, from “one of the university’s highly reliable and well-placed private sources.” No government-issued travel warning against traveling to Egypt and Turkey has been made.
Phillips went on to say “travel to a proscribed location is now an offense that can lead to a student’s dismissal from your program.”
But, according to Phillips’ statement Wednesday, Pepperdine, though still strongly advising students against travel to “particular destinations,” is not forbidding students to travel there.
“However, students should be aware that situations completely beyond the control of the university may still arise that would prevent their travel, or require them to change their plans,” he said.
The decision mainly affects London program participants, eight of whom bought tickets for a trip to Istanbul, Turkey, before the Feb. 20 announcement, and who expressed concern directly to Phillips after the announcement was made. Selected Florence program students planning a trip to Egypt were also affected, since the rule officially applied to all International Programs students.
Students raised the question as to whether the International Programs contract they signed at the beginning of the semester gave the university the express written authority to dismiss or otherwise discipline students should they violate a Pepperdine-issued travel warning.
According to London Program Director Dr. Claudette Wilson, the fact that a clause detailing such penalties was absent from the contracts, at least in part, acted as a catalyst for the reversal of the Feb. 20 decision.
In the event that war is formally declared by the United States on Iraq, Pepperdine policy is that students are to remain in their respective International Programs houses on the evening of the declaration, until the situation can be assessed and policies adjusted.
Currently students who are traveling when war is declared are required to get in immediate contact with their program director in order to determine the safest course of action to follow, including immediate return to the program house if possible.
Students, though aware their travel plans may still have to change, said they think the university made the right decision by allowing them to travel to Turkey and Egypt.
“I am glad that we as students have voices and that we were able to express our concerns so the policy was changed,” said Mary Jayne McIlwain, a sophomore in the London program planning to travel to Istanbul in late March.
Others realize that while the university may have lifted sanctions on their travel plans, they will still have parental concerns to deal with.
“I’m glad that students have the opportunity to go, but I understand that parents have reservations about letting their kids travel there,” said sophomore London Program participant Christine Morrison, who is also planning to travel to Istanbul.
Wilson said it was parental concern that caused the university to make these travel rulings in the first place. According to Wilson, a parent e-mail to Alumni Director Chris Sangster questioning the safety of student travel in Turkey and Egypt was the first thing that caused the university to question whether to allow students to go there.
“Parents have a lot of influence, and Pepperdine listens to parents,” Wilson said. “I’ve noticed that for 18 years.”
As for the new decision, Wilson said she is pleased with how it was resolved.
“I am especially pleased with the way the students and the administrators conducted themselves throughout this event,” Wilson said. “I think that both sides really worked well together.
“I think the willingness of parents to back their student’s travel plans influenced this final decision.”
Students said they plan to exercise caution and continue to monitor the world situation in the weeks preceding their trip.
“We’re going to trust what the State Department says,” McIlwain said. “If the State Department issues a warning, we’re going to follow that. If war is declared, Pepperdine has already made it clear how we are to respond to that and we’ll respect Pepperdine’s decision.”
Phillips cautioned students and parents alike to keep in mind the reasons behind any travel warnings the university may issue. “In advising students of unsafe travel destinations, the university is not trying to keep our students from having a good time and seeing the world, but is trying to keep them alive.”
— James Riswick and Sarah Carrillo contributed to the story.
March 13, 2003