Close to conflict
Recent terrorist attacks in Paris and the movement of the Syrian refugees impact study abroad programs.
By Shayla Norgaard | Royal Report
Bethel University England term student Katie Saffell sat writing a paper in Ireland just 450 miles away from Paris when her roommate came through the door and informed her about the attack that happened in Paris. Saffell felt a sinking feeling in her stomach. Her first thought was “you’re kidding?!”
This was the thought of many when they first heard the news of the terrorist attack in Paris Nov. 13, 2015.
Saffell and fellow students overseas received multiple messages and calls from loved ones concerned about their safety. Events that happen on the other side of the world, like the attack on Paris, affect Bethel University.
Due to tensions and security running high in Europe, current and future study abroad trips are taking extra precautions. Trips, such as the psychology interim trip, that is going to Austria, Germany, France and England, plan to be more mindful of communication, plan more sightseeing as a group and possibly implement a curfew while in Paris. Although the thought of being close to crisis is scary, Bethel will continue to ensure the safety of students. Bethel carefully monitors the ground realities in Europe on a daily basis and has a special emergency evacuation insurance coverage.
“The probability of having something happen to you in a terrorist event over there, actually your probability of getting hurt in a car accident here is higher,” Psychology interim trip leader Dr. Joel Frederickson said.
Due to Hungary closing its border because of the massive influx of refugees, the current communication Europe term had to cancel its trip to Budapest. The communication trip also decided to avoid Paris, as it was originally planned to go days after the attack occurred.
Students were about as close to the attack as Minneapolis is to St. Louis. Having been close to the conflict, Saffell and others studying abroad have been forced to challenge and expand their view of the world.
“(In Barcelona) it was on the news for weeks and weeks and weeks,” Spain term student Mya Kubik said. “If I was at Bethel in Minnesota I would probably feel bad about it for a week or two then it wouldn’t be in my mind anymore.”
“I was not expecting to come up across real problems facing the real world that you often don’t hear about a lot in America. We just kind of started getting hit in the face with it. It’s made the trip a lot more than just literature” — Katie Saffell, sophomore
In Kubik’s classes the Syrian refugees are a frequent topic of discussion. Katie and other students are learning how different countries are reacting to this crisis.
“I was not expecting to come up across real problems facing the real world that you often don’t hear about a lot in America,” Saffell said. “We just kind of started getting hit in the face with it. It’s made the trip a lot more than just literature”
Issues students are being faced with are helping them develop opinions about the Syrian refugee crisis. Due to the ongoing Syrian war, refugees have been fleeing to neighboring countries in Europe. This has been the biggest migration of people since World War II.
While overseas, students saw firsthand the crisis of the refugees and their need for help.
In Paris, just weeks before the attack, Saffell and fellow students saw a camp of tents for Syrian refugees. While at a Vienna train station, members of the communication trip, including leader Peggy Kendall, came face to face with hundreds of refugees, where Kendall witnessed stressed out mothers and crying kids.
Students already having to wrestle with hard questions about the Syrian refugees, had even more questions to answer after the attack in Paris.
“Students struggle with the idea of fear, trusting God, wanting to live an adventurous life, what it meant to be safe, and are we supposed to be safe?” Kendall said.
The controversy over welcoming refugees into the United States is a popular topic in political debates. Because Minnesota is one of the few refugee welcoming states, Bethel Students could have the opportunity to work with refugees through outreach programs.
“It’s not black and white,” Saffell said. “We have seen a lot of these people. You realize that these are people, and even though things like Paris scare us, I think this whole trip is wrestling with the idea of what being a Christian means and what loving people means even through hurt.”
Earlier this year professor in the history department Amy Poppinga and students started the 434 campaign to help Syrian refugees and encourage students to continue helping. Students can get involved by praying, donating, and staying informed about world crises.
“The more opportunity anyone has to put a name and a face to an issue, especially if is something they have been afraid of,” Poppinga said, “I think that those only end up being positive interactions because you recognize the humanity of what previously to you has just been statistics.”
Timeline of Paris Attack:
November 13:
9:20: First explosions occur at Stade de France during a soccer match.
9:25: Gunman open fire at restaurants Le Carillon and Le Petit Combodge
9:30: Second explosion occurs outside Stade de France
9:32: five people are killed and other injured by shooting outside the bar A La Bonne Biere
9:36: 19 people killed by gunman outside restaurant La Belle Equipe
9:40: Suicide bomber blows himself up inside the restaurant Comptoir Voltaire
9:40: Gunman kill 89 people and injure other at the Bataclan a small concert venue.
9:53: another explosion occurs near Stade de France
12:20: French elite police raid the Bataclan. Three terrorists die.
Inforamtion form CNN.
Countries taking Syrains refugees:
Turkey
Lebanon
Jordan
Iraq
Egypt
Germany
Greece
Sweden
Algeria
Austria
Armenia
England
Bahrain
Libya
Italy
Bulgaria
Canada
Brazil
The United States
Romania
Gaza
Ireland
Russia
France
Argentina
Macedonia
Poland
Uruguay
Colombia
Political Opinions about Refugees
Republicans:
Donald Trump: Donald Trump said at a rally in Tennessee he would deport Syrian migrants who are allowed into the U.S. He questioned whether those with ties to ISIS would be using the migration crisis as a “Trojan Horse” to get into Europe and the United States to carry out attacks.
Ben Carson: “We should do everything in our power to help these men, women and children who have been forced to flee their country, but until we can sort out the bad guys, we must not be foolish,” Carson said
Marco Rubio: At an event in Washington, D.C., Rubio said, “I’m increasingly convinced because you cannot accurately do a background check on even 10,000 people.” He previously said he would be “open” to accepting refugees if there was a way to ensure they were not being infiltrated by terrorists.
Democrats:
Hilary Clinton: “I said we should go to 65 [thousand] but only if we have as carefully screening and vetting process as we can imagine whatever resources it takes,” she said.
Bernie Sander: “I certainly think that the United States should take its full responsibility in helping those.”
Information received from CNN.
List of sites to get involved:
Sunshine USA
