Roberto Alonso
Staff Writer
Dominican University has hit the “pause” button on its plans for a study abroad trip to Cuba because of a U.S. Department of Travel warning about the island nation.
After U.S. diplomats in the capital of Havana suffered symptoms over the past several months such as “ear complaints and hearing loss, dizziness, headache, fatigue, cognitive issues, and difficulty sleeping.” The department warned that this was a potential sonic attack. The American and Cuban governments are investigating and have found no source for such an attack.
“Dominican did not want to risk endangering students on their trip to the University of Havana”, said Associate Provost David H. Krause.
“If the warning is lifted by Nov. 1 or latest mid-January, Dominican will resume plans for the May 2018 trip”, said Krause.
He remains hopeful, calling this a “temporary disappointment.”
The program started in 2011 when Dominican became the first school in the U.S. to take a study abroad trip after President Barack Obama lifted the ban that was in place since 1959.
The trip was heavily pushed by Associate Professor and director of the women and gender studies program Christina Perez. “When it was announced, we had to ask our ourselves, did we have the ability to get this organized with such a short amount of time?” Perez said, “We ultimately decided we were in such an incredible position that we had to go for it.”
A Dominican student who went on the Cuba study abroad trip in 2016 says the travel warning isn’t an overreaction and that Dominican cannot risk the wellbeing of its students. Still, the student said she was upset the trip was cancelled, saying it’s a great program.
Dominican graduate Sarah Tinoco also attended the trip in 2016. She called the Cuba trip cancellation “a huge overreaction” by both the U.S. Department of State and Dominican.
“They [Dominican] don’t know enough about the situation or Cuba” Tinoco said. “I think it’s bull. . . that they cancelled the trip.”
Karuse shared his opinion on the mater.
“This is not a reflection on them [University of Havana], but a necessary response to the government” Krause said, “This travel warning is part of a larger pattern of (the United States) not trusting Cuba.”
Krause called the travel warning “an overreaction,” but understands they wouldn’t risk potential harm to Dominican students.
medrcrys@my.dom.edu