Northwestern University and Evanston's Only Daily News Source Since 1881

The Daily Northwestern

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Northwestern University and Evanston's Only Daily News Source Since 1881

The Daily Northwestern

Northwestern University and Evanston's Only Daily News Source Since 1881

The Daily Northwestern

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Study abroad students avoid British riots

Although British students have struggled to come to grips with their government’s decision last month to almost triple England’s university tuition cap, the ruling will not bring changes to Northwestern’s study abroad programs in the country, said Robin Leephaibul, assistant director of NU’s Study Abroad Program.

“The tuition fees that British students pay and those that international students pay are not correlated, so the increase in British tuition fees should not affect our students’ fees in the near future,” Leephaibul said in an e-mail. “I think it’s still too early to determine if there will be any long-term effects.”

Leephaibul said she has not been alerted to any incidents regarding NU student involvement in the sometimes-violent demonstrations English students have staged in protest to the tuition decision. NU students in London said that although they have not felt threatened by the riots, they did behave more carefully at the height of the backlash last month.

“In the nights that I knew there would be protests, I didn’t go out as much,” said Weinberg junior Sara Weston about her experience studying at King’s College London last quarter. “I have friends who chose not to visit me because of the violence, but I was never afraid for my safety.”

Dana Behnke, a Weinberg junior currently studying at the London School of Economics and Political Science, agreed.

She said that the advanced announcements of the protests helped her make sure she didn’t get caught near any of the disturbances.

Both NU students said the tuition uproar did not mar their study abroad experience, but instead served as an opportunity to learn more about Britain’s education system.

“My professors talked about it a lot,” Weston said. “It was interesting to talk to people with different perspectives.”

Leephaibul said that there are resources available to NU students abroad who may be facing such challenges, including International SOS, which is a free security service.

Weston said students considering studying abroad in England should know about the educational changes but should not avoid going to London because of the riots.

“You should be aware of what’s going on, but you shouldn’t let it stop you if that’s your only reason,” Weston said.

Students should still pursue London programs, Behnke said, but they should consider staying away from the protests.

“I’d tell students to avoid the area where they know the protests will be occurring simply because it’s generally good sense to avoid situations where 50,000 frustrated people are,” Behnke said.

Still, NU students turning in study abroad applications for British programs this month do not seem fazed by the tuition hikes.

Weinberg sophomore Kalina Kassadjikova said she still plans to study in England not only because her program costs won’t change, but also because she thinks experiences abroad are valuable.

“You’re going abroad to get experiences that you couldn’t have gotten at NU,” Kassadjikova said. “Even if they’re not all sunshine and daisies, they’re still experiences.”

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Study abroad students avoid British riots