Although the events of Sept. 11, 2001, left many with feelings of fear, ISU students still have the desire to study abroad.

“There was a 16 percent decrease in participants in 2000 -2001, but it was more a reflection of the economy than the effects of Sept. 11,” said Trevor Nelson, assistant director of International Education Services and coordinator for the Study Abroad Center.

He said he spoke to several students who felt living is a risk in itself, and they could not be held hostage to those fears.

Ann Shelton, sophomore in mechanical engineering, was one of those people. She spent six weeks of her summer in London.

“Of course I was a little nervous, but I did not have any second thoughts on traveling,” she said. “I knew this is what I wanted to do.”

Justin Hines, senior in biochemistry, studied in Swansea, Wales, during the spring semester. He said his decision to study abroad was not affected by the terrorist attacks.

“[Sept. 11] certainly gave us all a scare that study abroad programs might get canceled, though,” Hines said.

Solomon Morrow’s worries had nothing to do with the terrorist attacks.

“A lot of people in my family was nervous about me going to Kenya, but I wasn’t really worried,” said Morrow, junior in political science. “I was more scared about the turbulence the plane faced than terrorists.”

Morrow spent a little over a month of his summer on the Experience Kenya program.

Some students altered their plans, but did not cancel or postpone experiences abroad.

“I had been planning my trip to Italy,” said Marv DeJear, graduate in business administration. “Because of Sept. 11, I felt it would be better to stay on this side of the world.”

DeJear instead studied in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, during the summer.

Sarah Chapman, sophomore in music, decided to pursue her study abroad experience sooner. She is currently at the British Institute of Florence, Italy.

“The way I see it, the international situation is likely to get worse before it gets better,” she told the Daily in an e-mail. “So, there is no better time than the present to make the trip.”

Student opinions echo those of the nation.

A survey of 530 international education professionals conducted by the Institute of International Education, shows study abroad programs are still a high priority on 98 percent of the campuses.

“There has always been a need for international understanding, and now there is an even greater need,” Nelson said. “The numbers of students participating in these programs are increasing from the previous summer.”

He said the study abroad office provides pre-departure sessions for students before they leave the United States.