By Joann Groff
Assistant Sports Editor
As tensions mount and the possibility of war looms nearer, students in Pepperdine’s international programs are experiencing some anxiety about their safety.
“I feel really scared by all of it,” sophomore Stephanie Cedenao of the Florence program said of the Iraqi situation. “I’m scared by my own ignorance about so many things going on in the world. As much as I try to keep up with what’s going on, I still feel like I’m missing out on things by not being home.”
Because of the sensitivity of the situation, the Graphic cannot report any specific plans the university will take in the event of war.
But Director of International Programs Dr. William Phillips says they have it under control.
“I can assure (students) that we have put a number of such (security) measures in place and we have a plan of action which we will execute decisively when, and if, it is required,” he said.
He said the university “absolutely” has “contingency plans for a number of possible scenarios.”
These plans are reviewed continually as new developments come in, and some are specifically tailored depending on location.
“A portion of our plan applies to all of the International Programs,” Phillips said. “However, we also have specific plans for each site.”
He said security will be heightened and extra guards stationed at the houses. A team of university administrators is constantly monitoring changes in the secured areas overseas. Pepperdine is a member of the United States Department of State’s Overseas Security Advisory Council, providing a connection to Washington, D.C. and making the university privy to breaking information.
Some students have said they think there is a possibility they could be sent home, or at least given the option to leave if the United States goes to war.
“We are prepared to deal with the possibility that we may be required to evacuate some or all of our students,” Phillips said.
If students are brought home mid-semester, the university is prepared to make the transition as easy as possible. Professors will be brought in to continue teaching classes and arrangements will be made for them to remain in Malibu.
“If we have to close a program and bring the students home we will provide them with university housing, feed them and continue their classes, so that they won’t lose any academic credit,” Phillips said.
Phillips is unsure of what programs may be affected by the war, as it is impossible to know now how the tide will turn.
He does, however, say he’s confident in the help he has.
“We have excellent sources of intelligence and we will rely on them for guidance in such an eventuality,” he said.
Students currently enrolled in the Florence program have been prepped for emergency evacuation. Each has been instructed to have a bag packed and ready, so that if war is declared, they can immediately report to the faculty apartment to decide the next step.
Students who are traveling at that time will call the house and discuss their options. Students say their director, Dr. Elizabeth Whatley, told them they may have travel restrictions and that there is a chance of returning home, but that cannot be determined until a situation arises.
“I feel pretty safe and am not worried,” sophomore Kellie Kanda said. “I know Pepperdine has a plan in case anything happens and we are all smart enough not to put ourselves in dangerous situations.”
Whatley agrees that while students are concerned about the thought of war, they are comfortable knowing they are being taken care of.
“I would say our students aren’t worried, they are calm because they know we have it under control,” she said. “We have done our part, we have done everything that can possibly be done. They are reassured about that.”
There have been a few restrictions placed on all International Programs students in an attempt to keep them accounted for at all times.
The first weekend after war is declared students will not be allowed to travel, so, Whatley said, they can feel out the situation and determine possible dangers.
“They will be allowed to leave the house,” Whatley said. “Just not go outside their particular city. We want to see how things go and be extra cautious in the beginning.”
Each weekend following, students will be required to provide their director with a detailed itinerary and contact numbers of where they will be traveling. They are asked to check in by phone each Saturday while traveling, and to be back up to the house by midnight Sunday.
If disaster strikes during the weekend while students are traveling, arrangements have been made for them to stay in alternate program’s housing. Students are urged to travel carefully and appear as local as possible.
“We just want students to be aware of their surroundings while traveling,” Whatley said. “We want them to look as non-American as possible. Stay away from places like McDonalds and Hard Rock Café. Blend in more than stick out. Be low key, use common sense and avoid putting themselves in compromising positions.”
Phillips has confidence in the students’ ability to use good judgment. He mentioned Pepperdine’s history, and the good record that International Programs holds when it comes to wartime situations.
“I would like to remind everyone that we have been sending Pepperdine students to study abroad for four decades,” he said.
February 13, 2003
