The aftermath of the Sept. 11 attacks has impacted the ISU Study Abroad Center, but officials say students considering studying abroad should not be concerned about their safety.

The Study Abroad Center has no plans to cancel any program, said Michelle Szabo, program coordinator for international education.

“Iowa State would never send students into harm’s way,” she said.

Kelly Lorenz, a global ambassador for the Study Abroad Center, said students currently studying abroad need to be as informed and careful as possible.

“The countries and cities I was in were just as safe as America,” said Lorenz, who has studied abroad in Wales and Australia. “If I was in the same programs, I would feel just as safe as before Sept. 11. It’s just a matter of how aware you are of your surroundings.”

Lorenz, senior in management, presented four informational meetings for the center in the past month and answered a lot of questions.

“Most students seem pretty confident,” she said. “They’re using the answers to convince parents.”

Students who are planning to study abroad should research the country they are considering, Lorenz said. She said students should check in with the U.S. Embassy in that country and know how to contact the proper authorities. Lorenz also suggested students know their rights in that country, and become familiar with the precautions and security measures the country has taken.

But the best advice is simple.

“Be aware,” she said. “People in America are looking over their shoulders right now. Continue that abroad.”

Despite the current feelings of patriotism, Lorenz said, students should not broadcast that they’re from the United States.

“Downplay your Americanism,” she said. “There are a lot of people around the world targeting Americans. Wearing a USA sweatshirt or a U.S. flag puts you at greater risk.”

The Study Abroad Center has protocol in place to cancel programs, Szabo said, just in case.

“We are concerned about the world situation and are monitoring it,” she said.

The center receives safety information from a variety of sources, including the U.S. State Department advisories, ISU experts on campus and colleagues abroad, Szabo said.

One student returned voluntarily from the program in Uzbekistan, Szabo said, but few other effects have been felt.

“We have been in touch with every program overseas. Students are still interested in learning about the world around them,” she said.

People are more aware now about the risks involved in travel, Szabo said.

The Study Abroad Center had not received many phone calls or questions after the attacks, Szabo said.

“The main concerns have been about [return] flights,” she said. “The best thing to do is to contact travel agencies or airlines regularly.”

Szabo said the decision to bring students back to the United States is made on a case-by-case basis.

“The safest place to be is right where they are,” she said.

Lorenz said this is one of the best times for students to go abroad.

“Students need to realize what is going on outside America,” she said. “Experiencing other cultures and countries is the best way to see differences of opinion [and have] a better understanding of why this has happened.”