U.S. Deputy Secretary Richard Armitage announced Oct. 21 the United States government would resume awarding Fulbright academic scholarships to Iraqi students, which were halted more than a decade ago.

Fulbright scholarships award money to students of foreign countries to attend college in the United States. Scholarships for Iraqi students were ceased during the Iran-Iraq War.

“I believe this revival of educational opportunity is not only one important step forward, it is an indicator of the overall renewal and recovery we are seeing in Iraq,” Armitage said in his announcement.

James McCormick, professor and chair of political science and participant in the Fulbright program, said lifting the suspension is a positive development.

“It’s always beneficial to have exchanges among cultures,” McCormick said.

Twenty students from Iraq will be sent to the United States on Fulbright scholarships, with the first arriving in January 2004.

Steffen Schmidt, university professor of political science, said the scholarship could bring non-refugee students from Iraq to the United States.

“What it means for us is that there may be Iraqi students studying here for the first time in years and years who are not refugees,” Schmidt said.

The lift of the suspension was likely due to resurfacing bonds between Iraq and the United States, he said.

“I think that the suspension has been lifted because conditions in Iraq are now settling down,” Schmidt said. “The U.S. is ready to get some Iraqi students here to be trained. It’s just a sign that the U.S. is trying to return to normalcy a little bit. We’re making an effort to win the hearts and minds of the Middle East.”

Mohamad Al-Saqer, a graduate student in physics and astronomy from Basra, Iraq, said the reestablishment of the program would likely be beneficial for his native country.

“Education is a very good thing, and I think that people who study outside the country have a better insight into solving problems once they return,” Al-Saqer said.

However, the problems facing Iraq are, “so much bigger than twenty people,” he said.

“The good thing about the Fulbright scholarship is that it requires students to go back once their study is finished and work for their countries,” Al-Saqer said. “In a way, it will help my country, and also the students who are chosen. Of course, it depends on which students, but it should be helpful in general.”

Armitage said the students will study in priority areas such as law, public administration, business and public health.

The Fulbright Program was created in 1946 following World War II, and was named for Arkansas Sen. J. William Fulbright. The program aims to promote cultural understanding between the United States and other countries by exchanging people, skills and knowledge.