The Students Are Advised Not To Venture Into The Riot-ridden Suburbs.
Wisconsin State Journal Wednesday, November 9, 2005
YANA PASKOVA ypaskova@madison.com 608-252-6120
UW-Madison students studying amid the unrest in France are “all safe,” according to interim Director of International Academic Programs Catherine Meschievitz.
Only three UW-Madison students currently reside in Paris, while 13 live around Aix-en-Provence. This stretch of land sits 30 to 60 miles from Marseilles — one of the French cities and towns ridden with the nation’s worst civil unrest in decades.
Meschievitz said faculty advisers in France have accounted for all of their students. They are talking to students as they travel to classes and into Paris and advising them against going to the hostile areas.
“While it is a great concern that we know this is happening in France, we know that students are safe, and in that sense we are not concerned for their well-being,” Meschievitz said. “We hope students will follow the advice not to go to these affected suburbs, and if they follow that advice, they will be safe.”
The unrest has not altered any of the study abroad curriculum and will not lead UW-Madison to cancel its programs in France. Meschievitz added that study abroad advisers would not send anyone to an unsafe country but would make sure students consider the political circumstances of the host country.
Although high school student groups in the Madison School District plan international excursions on an annual basis, none had scheduled France as their destination this year, said district spokesman Ken Syke.
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