University of Michigan suspends all support for undergraduate student trips to Haiti
The University of Michigan is barring all undergraduate student travel to Haiti using university resources or for university business, it said in an e-mail to students on Thursday.
The announcement comes after an earthquake devastated the poor Caribbean nation earlier this month.
Citing a U.S. State Department travel warning that U.S. citizens should avoid traveling into Haiti because of limited communication, transportation and basic resources, U-M said it would not support undergraduate student trips there until conditions improve.
"Graduate or professional students with specific professional experience and qualifications may travel to Haiti under University auspices as part of an organized relief effort," the notification said.
However, graduate students must first submit travel information and plans for prior approval to the univeristy's International Travel Oversight Committee at umitoc@umich.edu.
The message came from U-M Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Teresa Sullivan and U-M Vice President for Student Affairs E. Royster Harper. It encouraged students to help organizations already in place.
Tina Reed covers health and the environment for AnnArbor.com. You can reach her at tinareed@annarbor.com, call her at 734-623-2535 or find her on Twitter @TreedinAA.
Comments
michela
Thu, Jan 28, 2010 : 12:21 p.m.
This is a good choice. Haiti's relief effort needs to be led by Haitians and qualified professionals that already have a relationship with Haitian organizations--not well meaning yet naive students who will spend a ton on airfare. If you want to make a difference, donate to one of the trustworthy organizations already working on the ground.