I and the college administration regularly consult both State Dept and Health Dept releases concerning security, health, and travel in the country of Turkey.

The Health Dept requires no immunizations but strongly suggests four preventive measures (current Tetanus/diptheria booster; Hepatitis A innoculation; typhoid oral vaccine, and malaria oral vaccine), each of which we strongly urge in turn upon all participants in our trips to Turkey. Each student must complete a form declaring whether he/she obtains or waives these measures. In previous years most do elect to obtain them. Take special note that the HepA innoculation is a series of two shots administered at least 6 months apart. The first shot is said to supply some 80% coverage, but if one wants to travel with the vaccine's full protection one will need to arrange for the first dosage by November.

The Health Dept, in its Travax report, relays State Dept information about safety. The report currently advises vigilance but issue no official advisories, except for the area nearest the Iraq border. Our closest approach to that area (in Haran) is about 200 miles away. (Australia alone does issue a travel advisory for its citizens for the country.)

Recent flare ups of terrorist activity include the following:

August 28, 2006 -- An explosion in the shopping area of Antalya, killed three people and injured some dozens more, including European tourists. The blast followed four bombs in the nearby resort city of Marmaris and in the Bagcilar area of Istanbul that wounded 28 people, including 10 British tourists.

August 15, 2006 -- A percussion bomb exploded opposite the east entrance of the Blue (Sultanahmet) Mosque in Istanbul.

August 14, 2006 -- An explosion near the Hagia Sofia also in Sultanahmet injured three.

August 12, 2006 -- A bomb exploded outside an internet café in Istanbul injuring six people.

August 4, 2005 -- Two explosions in the eastern Mediterranean city of Adana injured 17 people.

March 9, 2004 -- A suicide attack against an Istanbul Masonic lodge killed one attacker and one other person and wounded several others.

November, 2003 -- An explosion near a synagogue and near the British Embassy in Istanbul in connection with Bush's visit with Blair that month.

These activities, especially the recent cluster of (apparently Kurdish) attacks last August, are on the one hand reason for heightened caution and concern. On the other hand, by comparison with similar activities endangering tourists in other parts of the world, including Europe and even the US, the frequency and seriousness of these events still leaves Turkey among the relatively safer countries in the world in which for Americans to travel.

The college, as it does for all its international trips, distributes to each traveller a travel-risk declaration and waiver of college liability, which each student is asked to sign. We trust this reminder will heighten all travelers' awareness of the need for vigilance. Of this need we will persistently remind students throughout the trip.

We shall carry with us not only embassy contact information but forms each student has filled out with family contact information and personal health and medical insurance data. Copies of these forms will also be left on file at the Provost's office (517-607-2321) and the Dean of Students' office (517-607-2333). Parents in need of emergency information are welcome to contact either of these numbers or the Provost's secretary, Mrs. Nancy Ryan. I shall be reporting in updates of our whereabouts and welfare to the Provost's office at regular intervals during our travels.

In addition to any health coverage that personal insurance companies may (or may not) provide for the country of Turkey, we have also purchased for each traveler a supplemental travel policy that covers trip cancellation or delay, baggage loss or delay, document loss, plus medical expenses (25,000) and emergency medical transport (300,000). The carrier is TravelGuard and the policy number for 2007 is 901939479. We shall, of course, also have its contact number with us.

The information I'm receiving from various sources, personal and via agencies in Turkey, suggests that travel in Turkey remains safer than in Europe at the moment, safer possibly than in larger American cities (Turks keep telling me they feel far safer at home, even in Istanbul, than they would travelling to NYC). This is not a reason for disregarding the ever-present concerns of travel, wherever one goes in this post-9/11 world. But I do feel reasonably reassured that this trip should proceed without incident.

Most of our travel takes us away from highly populated areas. I shall be emphatically urging students on the trip never to take solitary excursions but always to be in the company of at least a small group of fellow travellers. Turks generally like Americans, which seems increasingly less common in other areas of the world, and they certainly have a high reputation for hospitality. Where the country may fail in achieving an actual moderate democracy is precisely in its strong suppression of the militant fundamentalism of other Muslim nations.

In sum, I share completely every parent's concerns for caution and vigilance and mean to keep the students alert to those concerns. At the same time, naturally, I wouldn't lead the group on this trip or go on it myself (let alone bring my own daughter on this 2007 trip) if I didn't think that the security risks were within a reasonable zone of confidence. I expect we shall enjoy a wonderful trip!

Sincerely,

Don Westblade
Dir., Honors Program
and Trip Leader