Newest developments in finding a cure for severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS, have both Syracuse University students and officials optimistic about the reopening of the Hong Kong study abroad program for the fall semester.

According to the Center for Disease Control, scientists on Monday announced they have sequenced the genome for the coronavirus that is linked to SARS.

‘Having this information is critically important for developing even faster diagnostic tests and certainly should help us in the development of antivirals and vaccine work down the road,’ said Dr. Julie Gerberding, the director of the CDC, in a press conference earlier this week.

The cancellation of two SU Division of International Programs Abroad summer programs that involved travel to Asia led to concern about the continuation of study abroad in Hong Kong for the fall semester. However, James Buschman, associate director for recruitment, admissions and student services within DIPA, remains optimistic.

‘We have not yet canceled the fall semester program in Hong Kong, and the reason is that there are still four months from [April 14] when that program is scheduled to start,’ said Buschman. DIPA will decide whether or not to send students to Hong Kong in mid-June.

‘We are hopeful that a means of combating SARS will be developed by then.’

Despite progress towards curing the virus, DIPA has developed a plan to compensate students planning to study in Hong Kong if it is canceled.

‘What we have done to protect all of the students is to automatically accept them into an alternate program, if for whatever reason Hong Kong does not go,’ said Buschman.

‘We can never offer a risk-free program.’

SARS hasn’t changed Jennine Liu’s plans to study in Hong Kong next semester.

‘I hope it gets contained,’ said Liu, a sophomore international relations major. ‘DIPA seems pretty optimistic about the whole thing.’

Since its discovery in early March, SARS been deemed a global epidemic with over 3,250 cases reported worldwide.

The airborne virus is highly contagious if a person comes into contact with it.

Thirty-one students studying through Syracuse’s study abroad program in Hong Kong were sent home April 1 in response to increasing concerns about the students’ safety.

‘Syracuse University made the ultimate decision,’ Buschman said. ‘Lots of people participated in that decision, going all the way up to Chancellor (Kenneth A.) Shaw.’

‘That decision was made to reduce as much as possible the risk of exposure to the virus,’ said Kathleen Vanvechten, director of nursing at Health Services. ‘But it also is based on the travel guidelines set by the CDC.’

Courtney Fein, a junior speech communications major, was one of the students called back from Hong Kong.

‘My immediate reaction was that [DIPA was] overreacting in the typical American way and that they were just avoiding a lawsuit,’ Fein said.

‘But now I know we’re lucky we got out when we did.’

Other students who were called home echoed Fein’s sentiment.

‘I never took it seriously when I was there,’ said Scotte Moegling, a junior marketing and finance major. ‘I didn’t know much about it. Most of the news was about the war.’

The virus has affected the plans of students planning to study abroad in both Hong Kong and in the surrounding area.

‘SARS’ spread through Asia affected my study abroad because, though it hasn’t reached Russia yet, I didn’t want the program to be canceled while I was there or for it to be canceled in the middle,’ said sophomore Victoria Amling, a broadcast journalism and international relations major. She opted to study in Australia this fall instead.

Even though she was frustrated when the program was canceled, Fein doesn’t regret her study abroad experience.

‘The next chance I have to travel, I hope I can go back,’ she said. ‘Hopefully, SARS will be under control by then.’

Published on April 16, 2003 at 12:00 pm