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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (May 7, 1999)
The Battalion A GGIELIFE Page 7 « Friday, May 7, 1999 Studying abroad brings unexpected risks for students I )WS up worki: Inc.,«v ROBERT HYNECEK/The Battalion BY HINA PATEL The Battalion nstead of the 100-degree weather of Col lege Station this summer, Texas A&M students will be able to enjoy working for course credit in the cool weather of Italy. However, the cool easy breezy lifestyle comes with warnings and precautions. Lacy McSarland, Employee of the Study Abroad program and senior english major, said the University requires the students to sign a code of conduct. "We also discuss safety at all the meet ings and give handouts on safety which are meant to help the students when they are in a foreign country,” McSarland said. Each year, more than 2,500 American cit izens are arrested abroad — about half on drug-related charges. According to Secre tary of State Madeline Albright, many American students serve time in foreign jails or await trial in detention because they were unaware of the risks of using or pos sessing drugs while overseas. There are 40 to 50 students going on the College of Architecture trip to Castiglio, Fiorentino. Lauren Petry, a sophomore architecture major, said she will be travelling to Italy. “It is necessary for me because I believe it will help me grow and understand Archi tecture,” she said. “I will know what to ex pect in the real world.” Petry said the students traveling to Italy had to take a study abroad seminar spon sored by the College of Architecture where they learned all types of safety techniques. “We are going to be travelling extensive ly by train and were told to sit in a car with nuns,” she said. Petry said robbery there involves a lot of trickery. “We were told about an incident when a girl was sketching the Parthenon with her bag on her lap and how it was stolen right out from under her,” she said. “In Italy, there is a lot of theft so you have to be cautious, but the thieves do not want to hurt you, they just want the mon ey. Also, we were told not to sleep at the same time as the person that you are trav eling with, so one of you can keep an eye out.” But an equally important issue is how students react to foreign countries’ laws. Since most college students are of age to drink in foreign countries, many use the op portunity to get drunk, McSarland said. Many young Americans are also arrested in foreign lands because of the inappropriate behavior associated with heavy drinking. “Italians do not drink to get drunk, and when Americans do, it shows that Ameri cans are disrespectful,” Petry said. The program directors have already in formed us that they will come down hard on us. “The program is fighting this, they said that the Italians will not speak English to you even if they know how, in jail, because you have shown great disrespect for both them and their culture,” Petry said. “If you are caught with drugs, the pro gram will not tolerate it, they will call your parents and send you home. They have zero tolerance,” Petry said. Since the students are legal in a foreign country, they must behave accordingly Mc Sarland said. Pizza/ Feed your Brain Two Large 1 Topping Pizzas For Only ASmall 2 Topping Pizza & a 20 oz. Coke Product For Only $ 12.99 OR $ 6.99 Open till 3 a*m. in College Station Thursday May 6 th thru Tuesday May 11 th Delivery or Carryout Limited Delivery Area Good at Any Bryan/College Station Papa Johns Pizza • 'I Aggie Bucks 1 100 D. Harvey Rd 601 University Dr. 3414 E. 29th St. 764-7272 (Northgate) 267-7272 846-3600 Good Luck on Finals! Congratulations Class of ‘99! ie mov* .'ells Fill 1 offset ■ > ticket; f| king ti lovie. !* it a W'-i Rustic River Resort ON THE COMAL RIVER SAVE 50% on 4 or 5 nite mid-week and 7 nite stays All river view cabins on 4 1/2 wooded acres. Secluded and quiet. Across from Schlitterbahn. Walk to downtown. A family tradition since 1910. THEOTHEJLrtACE' 385 Other Place Drive New Braunfels, Texas 78130 (830) 625-5114 ,, , _ .. , _ , h . 7.12. Get top dollar, shorter lines, and a free CD The U Zone Textbook Buyback at Fitzwil y . , m . s FRi;iM martens while supplies last