The relatively high risk of becoming involved in an
international crisis while studying abroad certainly gives the
University of California the right to minimize such risks by
restricting student travel to places like known war zones. In an
admirable effort to protect students enrolled in the Education
Abroad Program, the UC has adopted a policy forbidding students
from traveling to hazardous areas like the West Bank and Gaza
Strip. Unfortunately, two students knowingly violated the policy by
traveling to the Church of the Nativity and have rightfully been
withdrawn from the EAP without receiving course credit.
While the students’ standing at the university is yet to
be decided, the UC should allow them to continue their studies at
their respective universities next quarter ““ realizing that
the rules of a specific program should not have any bearing on
students’ overall UC eligibility. The students should be
allowed to finish their semester independently of EAP at the
University of Cairo ““ where they were taking classes before
traveling to Israel ““ and those credits should be
transferrable if they meet UC standards.
Even though students are responsible adults who have the right
to express their political beliefs, when their decisions break
rules and jeopardize the EAP, there are consequences. EAP clearly
stated this, and now the violators should be willing to accept
those consequences.