During such a turbulent and important period in history, many courageous students are interested in going abroad, and it is essential to balance their safe while promoting internationalism.

We take students' well-being seriously. Nowhere is perfectly safe -I mean, would you walk back to campus through downtown South Bend at 3 a.m.? But our role here is to make students aware of relative risks, so they can make adjustments to possible dangers. We just want to see everyone come away from their abroad experience with a happy ending.

Things do happen now and then in various sites abroad, many times because of imprudent behavior, like falling asleep on a train or walking alone at night. Some are just innocent victims as well, however, and it is important that students know what they may face even if they stay aware.

Spring break officially opens the beach season, and the warm sun, pristine sand and azure ocean beckon students, families and friends alike for this exciting annual rite of passage. All across America, throughout Mexico and the Caribbean, fabulous beach resorts are rolling out the welcome mat and staking out the umbrellas.

It means that some students might self-select out of colleges, because they don't think they'll be able to afford it.

Of course, all students should learn African history, as they should learn the history of other continents and major civilizations. But this history should be taught accurately and based on the best scholarship, not ideology or politics.