| BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Indiana University has
reinstated a summer overseas study program in Israel that
was suspended three years ago after the U.S. State
Department issued a travel warning for that country.
The three-week program involves participation in an
archeological dig at Tel Beth Shemesh, an ancient city from
biblical times. It will take place in June if enough
students sign up for it, according to Kathleen Sideli,
associate dean of international programs and director of
overseas study.
IU suspended its overseas study programs in Israel in
2002 in keeping with a policy that requires the university
to withdraw from programs in countries under State
Department travel warnings.
Sideli said the Safety and Responsibility Committee of
the IU Overseas Study Advisory Council made an exception to
this policy and authorized reinstatement of the Tel Beth
Shemesh program because there are signs that terrorist acts
have decreased in Israel in the last year and special
security provisions have been made to keep students away
from areas that are potentially dangerous.
The program is to be led by Stephen Katz, an associate
professor of Near Eastern languages and cultures. The class
is intended to teach students about archeology and ancient
Israel through a combination of hands-on training, evening
lectures and preliminary readings. The students will be
housed at a kibbutz.
"The Safety and Responsibility Committee concluded that
with the added safety and security measures, students who
are open to accepting this level of personal risk should be
able to participate," Sideli said.
She noted that for the time being, a suspension remains
in effect for the overseas study program at Hebrew
University in Jerusalem. Prior to 2002, students in IU's
Jewish Studies Program at Bloomington were permitted to take
a semester of classes at Hebrew University and receive
direct credit toward an IU degree.
The suspension means that IU will not provide financial
aid to students taking courses at Hebrew University, nor
will it carry them in an "enrolled" status while they are
overseas. However, for IU students who choose to take
classes at Hebrew University despite the suspension, the
courses they successfully complete can still be transferred
to IU and count toward degree completion.
About 30 of IU's Jewish Studies students have enrolled in
Israeli universities, including Hebrew University, since the
State Department warning was posted. Two IU students were
present in the Hebrew University cafeteria when it was
bombed in 2002, but they escaped with no injuries.
Steven Weitzman, director of IU's Jewish Studies Program,
said he is pleased that IU has restored the Tel Beth Shemesh
Program.
"IU is doing an excellent job of balancing safety
concerns with a desire to make study in Israel a possibility
for students," Weitzman said.
Sideli said IU continues to monitor the situation closely
and intends to re-establish formal ties with Hebrew
University as soon as the State Department lifts its travel
warning. |
