Director's update regarding current situation in Spain

The Office of Overseas Study continues to monitor the situation in Spain, as a result of the tragic bombings that took place in Madrid on Thursday, March 11, 2004. The safety of IU students is of the utmost importance to us.

We have ascertained that all IU students on IU administered and co-sponsored programs in Spain are safe (Wisconsin-Indiana-Purdue program in Madrid, IES programs in Barcelona, Salamanca and Madrid and CIEE programs in Alicante and Seville.) We have also heard from other program providers to confirm that other IU students in Spain are safe. Indiana University currently has 98 students in Spain this spring across a number of programs [Alicante (3), Barcelona (23), Granada (2), Madrid (16), Salamanca (1), Seville (49), Valencia (4)].

Spanish officials continue to blame terrorists from the Basque separatist group ETA for the attack although they have not ruled out other possibilities. ETA has actively engaged in terrorism for over thirty years during which time over 800 people have been killed. However, ETA previously targeted political leaders, police or military personnel. It is highly unusual for them to attack civilians. ETA does not have the support of the vast majority of Spaniards, including the Basques themselves who have protested against ETA for many years.

We will be monitoring the situation in Spain very closely with our staff as well as other program providers in Spain. Students will be warned to avoid crowded places (i.e. large department stores, train stations, etc.) until after the elections take place on Sunday, March 14. Today begins a period of three official days of mourning. Students have been warned to steer clear of large public gatherings, including peace protests and demonstrations against the terrorists.

I still plan to arrive in Madrid on Sunday for previously scheduled program visits to both Madrid and Seville.

Any additional information will be posted here on our Web site.

Kathleen Sideli
Associate Dean, International Programs
Director, Office of Overseas Study
Indiana University
Franklin Hall 303
Bloomington, IN 47405-1223 Ph: 812-855-1139
Fax: 812-855-6452
sideli@indiana.edu