Study abroad program to Egypt is canceled

As revolutions have incited political unrest in the Middle East and North Africa, study-abroad programs in the region have been called into question over safety concerns—resulting in the cancellation of a program to Alexandria, Egypt.In an email to Alexandria program applicants, study abroad adviser Casey Poe said,Ongoing instability and the indefinite extension of the State Department Travel Warning to Egypt is the reason for the cancellation.Nine students completed their applications for the program and 16 were in the process of completing their forms, said Abby Howell-Dinger, a junior in anthropology and environmental studies, and a study-abroad intern. Students who had made the initial $500 deposit may transfer to other study-abroad programs or opt for a full refund, Howell-Dinger said.

Many universities have canceled their study-abroad programs in the Middle East, but students are still encouraged to study in stable countries, said Cynthia Douglass, director of outreach and community affairs for the Middle East Center. There are a variety of language institutions in the region, including great options in Jordan, Lebanon and Morocco,Germany,Douglass said.The revolution in Egypt has also affected the Tanner Humanities Center's April World Leaders Lecture. Speaker Mohammed ElBaradei, an Egyptian law scholar and diplomat, was set to speak at the forum but canceled. ElBaradei, a Nobel laureate and former director general of International Atomic Energy Agency, announced in March he will run for the Egyptian presidency, according to Al Jazeera.