With war waging and an anti-American sentiment high, students still are traveling abroad to study.

Although the national threat level was elevated to high risk (level orange), no study abroad programs have been canceled or altered as of this time, said Anne Seitzinger, the assistant director of the Study Abroad Office who deals with the NIU-administered programs.

However, the office is keeping a close watch on world events. A crisis management team at the Study Abroad Office is assessing the situation.

NIU will not send students to any country for which the United States Department of State has issued a travel warning. The list of 26 countries with travel warnings includes ones on opposite sides of the globe, such as Indonesia.

The office also has plans to cancel programs or get students out if conditions worsen.

“We can never guarantee anyone’s safety,” Seitzinger said. “But, we are being very proactive in educating students, parents and faculty of possible risks.”

Junior acting major Osiris Khepera traveled to Ireland in January of 2000 and plans to travel to Ghana this summer. He isn’t worried about studying abroad.

“I feel fine about being an American overseas,” he said. “I’ve had several people voice their concerns to me, but Ghana is not threatened to be in the war in Iraq.”

Khepera is looking forward to seeing the international view of America and its actions.

A safety and security update released by the office reassured possible travelers.

“It is important to note that we do not have reason to believe that participants and faculty abroad through NIU are at any greater risk than they would be in the United States, or that this changed when military action started,” the update stated.

This is not the first time the Study Abroad Office has operated programs during wartime.

During the first Gulf War, the office had to cancel a program in Egypt, but continued most programs.

The Study Abroad Office checks government and international Web sites frequently and also maintains a list of passport numbers and expiration dates for all participants.