Recent economic and political upheaval in Argentina has not impacted the Spanish Foreign Study Program in Buenos Aires scheduled for Spring term, according to the program's administrators.
Spanish Department Chair Marsha Swislocki said, "We have full expectation that the program will continue as expected."
Some students scheduled to participate in the FSP, however, expressed anxiety about living and studying in Argentina if the situation remains volatile.
The College will reevaluate the FSP's status, Swislocki said, "if, for any reason, there is a dramatic change in the political situation. As far as we know, the program will go on as planned. We've made the decision to go ahead."
Twenty-five students are currently enrolled in the program. All participants are also taking Spanish 21 this term, taught by returning program director Juan Medrano-Pizarro.
"All of the program participants are enrolled in this class Winter term," Swislocki said, "So they will be kept informed on what is going on in Argentina on almost a daily basis."
Medrano-Pizarro voiced confidence in the FSP. "Unless any drastic change occurs, we are going to offer it," he said. "We are going to run the program -- that's for sure. We are not foreseeing any cancellation."
While he has received emails from students regarding Argentina's current economic uncertainty, Medrano-Pizarro does not anticipate any attrition, due to the FSP's competitive nature.
"The program is very popular," he said. "People are very eager to participate."
Victoria Wilk '04 no longer agreed. "It's become an issue of if Americans are really safe in Argentina. If [the Argentine people] are fearing for their lives, do we have to fear for our lives too?"
"I don't think that any student at Dartmouth is fully prepared to live in a situation like this," she said. "I hope that Dartmouth offers us an alternative."
Aaron Gillespie '04 was less alarmed. "It's made me a little more nervous, but I feel that Dartmouth is not going to send me into a situation where I'll be in trouble," he said.
Both participants felt that a timely and definite decision by the administration regarding the program's status was of great importance.
As in past years, Dartmouth students will study Argentine literature, culture and history at the Universidad de Bel Grano, located in a residential neighborhood in Buenos Aires.
The Universidad "is quite far from where all the political demonstrations have been taking place," Medrano-Pizarro said.
Off-Campus Programs Director Peter Armstrong noted that the administration has not discussed the possibility of the FSP's cancellation, but that the College is "certainly keeping abreast of the situation."
Becoming the nation's fifth president in two weeks, Sen. Eduardo Duhalde took the oath of office yesterday. A member of the Peronist Party and former mayor of Buenos Aires, Duhalde has appointed prominent members of Argentina's business community as well as of his own party to a crisis cabinet.
The cabinet is scheduled to meet today to attempt to prevent economic collapse. Duhalde has not yet commented on plans to improve the strength of the faltering Argentine peso.
The U.S. State Department has cautioned American citizens considering travel to Argentina "to monitor media reports for current information on developing situations and to avoid any areas where large groups have gathered."
According to the State Department, while "political and economic uncertainty contributed to sometimes violent demonstrations ... public security has been largely restored, the government has called general elections for March 3, and the political, social and security situation is likely to remain fluid throughout the campaign period. There have been no reports of injuries to U.S. citizens, and demonstrations and looting have not been specifically aimed at foreign visitors or residents."
"Things appear to be stabilizing," Swislocki said.
Medrano-Pizarro agreed. "We are confident that things are going to improve."