january 28, 2010 News CAMPUS CARRIER, PAGE 3

Berry international safety plan in place

Lindsey Banks
Staff Writer
Since the Haiti disaster, students who are
preparing to study abroad have one more item
on their agenda — safety.
This is where Berry comes in — what hap-
pens when a disaster happens in the country a
Berry student is studying in, and how do they
make sure the student is safe?
“Berry has considered this, and quite seri-
ously. With input from many offices, we have
developed emergency response plans for our
semester programs and faculty-led summer
international programs,” Sarah Egerer, direc-
tor of international programs, said. “These
cover not only natural disasters but also ill-
ness, crime and political unrest.”
Anne Lewinson, professor of anthropology
and sociology, went with a group of students
on a 2009 Maymester to Tanzania. She said
that it is a calm country with tensions simmer-
ing below the surface around elections.
Egerer said students should educate them-
selves as much as possible about the host
country.
“It is helpful to be aware of cultural norms,
the political climate, laws and read the infor-
mation sent to them [students] by the host
institution,” Egerer said.
Senior Andrea Brown said she spent a
semester in Spain but most recently took a
different approach to international travel and
went to Costa Rica to teach English with a
group of 11 other Berry students in the north-
ern rural areas of the country, where she lived
with a host family. She said she was never
concerned for her safety but took precautions
by registering with a travel advisory site rec-
ommended by the faculty. Prior to departure,
Brown said her group met to talk about the
culture they would be living in and how to
live with host families.
Egerer suggested other precautionary mea-
sures that students should take which include
updating information with any new cell phone
numbers or physical addresses once they have
arrived. On site, she said students should
attend their host institution’s orientation and
ask any questions they have. There have been
communication issues on previous trips the
Spanish department took to Costa Rica, so
each student in Brown’s group was provided
with a Costa Rican cell phone.
The study abroad orientation that each stu-
dent attends addresses the logistics on being
safe in a foreign country. Each country has
its own local norms, and as a student who
is supposed to be embracing local customs
to broaden their horizons, those customs are
what shape student experience—even if it
would be skeptical in comparison to American
standards.
Senior Megan Moffatt said she was very
prepared for life in Argentina thanks to pre-
vious Berry students who shared their experi-
ence and nostalgia about minor items, which
helped her make the most of her life in South
America. Moffatt said she was “well estab-
lished” in the city with her host family. She
said she felt like she made the most of her
travels.
“Part of growing and having the ultimate
experience is taking risks but knowing when
to not be stupid,” Moffatt said.
Depending on where she was, Moffatt said
she did not always own up to being American
and, instead, identified herself as Canadian. If
a country is experiencing political unrest with
anti-American sentiment, this could affect
Berry students’ ability to move about freely in
the host country.
“Honestly, there was more hostility when
Bush was president,” Lewinson said.
Moffatt said, “People often act differently
if they know you are American.” She said she
experienced several instances of American
hostility. When she was speaking English a
man approached her and said, “in my country,
we speak my language.”
Moffatt said Argentines are refined people,
yet “they label Americans as having big butts
Viking Chef: D-Hall
and wearing sweats.”
Edition
Brown said it was obvious that she was not
Register, then compete to
from Costa Rica due to her pale skin and red
create a meal using any of
hair. She said she believes this is the primary
D-Hall’s ingredients from
reason she would get “cat calls” from a con-
11:30 to 12:30 p.m. Thurs-
struction site that she passed every day on her
day. The first place win-
way to the elementary school.
ner receives a gift card and
This is why it is important for students to
their recipe will be featured
register with the U.S. Embassy so they can be
in D-Hall.
contacted in an emergency and receive up-to-
date information on security conditions.  
“Copenhagen”
Brown said she was not worried about con-
See a free play by Michael
tingency plans because she had the support
Frayn about quantum phys-
of a foundation her group went with. Moffatt
ics, the uncertainty prin-
said there would be people to take care of her
ciple, Schrodinger’s cat and
if there was a crisis while she was in Argentina.
the creation of the atomic
However, she said she is not sure what would
bomb at 7 p.m. Friday in
have happened if there had been a disaster
the E.H. Young Theatre. CE
that affected the entire country, as in Haiti.
credit offered.
Egerer said Berry has never had to deal
with any form of evacuation on an education
abroad program. Comedian Erik Griffin
“If they are U.S. citizens, they are strongly Laugh the night away at
encouraged to register with the U.S. State 9 p.m. this Friday in the
Department prior to departing for their host Cage Center.
country so the U.S. Embassy is aware of their
presence in the country,” Egerer said. Cosmic Bowling
In the event that there had been an emer- Join KCAB as Classic Lanes
gency in Tanzania while Berry students were turns bowling over to Berry
travelling, Lewinson said she would follow the students. Students will
people around to get them out of immediate receive free admission,
danger, immediately contact the U.S. Embassy shoes and lane with a Berry
and as a last resort, a foreign non-government ID Friday from 11 p.m. to 1
organization in the area. a.m.

Leaving Araby Concert

the
carriEr
Hear alumnus Jon Gill open
for Athens band Leaving
Araby at 8 p.m. Saturday.
The band starts at 9 p.m.

Sadie Hawkins Dance

Girls ask the guys to a
dance Saturday at 8:30 p.m.
NEEDS YOU! in Richards gym.
Paid Positions Available
Meetings Every Monday at 5:30 p.m. What Happens Now?
Health Care in a Post-
in Richards Gym Reform World
Hear a presentation by
journalist, author and ex-
pert on the U.S. health care
system Shannon Brownlee

Health care expert to visit

Monday, Feb. 1 at 7:30 p.m.
in the Spruill Ballroom. CE
credit offered.

Andrew Blevins Student Involvement Fair

Assistant News Editor Explore campus organiza-
tions from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Berry College will welcome Shannon Brownlee, a nationally-known Tuesday, Feb. 2 in Krannert
writer and health care expert, from Feb. 1 to 4 as part of the Woodrow Lobby.
Wilson Visiting Fellow program. During her visit, Brownlee will present
a public lecture, “What Happens Now? Health Care in a Post-Reform
World,” in Spruill Ballroom. The presentation is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
Monday, Feb. 1, and admission is free and open to the public.
Brownlee will also conduct classes, seminars, workshops, lectures
and informal meetings with students and faculty members to share her Check out the
expertise in health care economics and medical innovation.
Brownlee is the acclaimed author of “Overtreated: Why Too Much
community
Medicine is Making Us Sicker and Poorer,” in which she examines the calendar at
economics of American health care. She is a former senior editor at
“U.S. News & World Report,” and her work has appeared in a wide vikingfusion.
berry.edu to get
variety of other publications.
Tom Kennedy, dean of the Evans School of Humanities, Arts and
Social Sciences, encourages everyone to take advantage of Brownlee’s
visit. the
“Given the national discussion about health care reform, this [is] a
golden opportunity for Berry students, faculty and staff to think along
inside scoop.
with an expert about an issue of vital national importance,” Kennedy
said.
Brownlee’s personal Web site can be found at www.overtreated.
com.