For example, at the age of 18, freshman Amanda Knox had planned to receive her education from the University of Washington in Perugia, Italy, but managed to receive more than just a cultural experience. She was accused, prosecuted and then convicted to 26 years of Italian imprisonment for allegedly killing one of her roommates, Meredith Kercher, in 2007, as assisted by her boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito and a friend Rudy Guede. All three were found guilty of murdering Kercher while being high on drugs after she refused to have an orgy.
Knox went through the process of being held in contempt by the courts, criticized by media and questioned for over a 14-hour period by police. Additionally, she had to go through the Italian judicial system without any American help regardless of the fact that she was a U.S. citizen. Although to this day she claims to be innocent of the crime, she lost four years of her social life and education that she will never be able to make up. Knox and Sollecito were released Oct. 5 after serving four years in prison, and returned to America after successfully appealing against the murder. Guede is still going through the process of his last appeal.
Why is this important, you may ask? Students at the University of Dayton favor international studying at a very high rate. As a tight-knit Marianist community, we should be concerned about the welfare of our students as they set out into different countries for more in-depth education. Participants in international schooling should be aware that not all countries have the same laws and regulations as our beloved United States of America. Drugs, prostitution and even murder cases are handled differently due to the wide gap in culture. For example, drugs might have been more accepted in Italy for people 18 or older, because it was not even included in Knox, Sollecito and Guede's sentence. Easier access to such harmful products can get many students in a variety of mental, physical and lawful trouble.
I don't believe that students shouldn't seize the opportunity to study abroad - it is the best college experience a student could ever receive. But I do believe that students, especially first- and second-years, should proceed with caution. Study and have fun, but still keep yourself and your roommates safe, whether they are from your school or not. I know there are many temptations because you are not on a rule-based campus and laws might be more relaxed, however, safety should be the primary concern of students when deciding where they want to study internationally. Do not go to a foreign country thinking you can get away with whatever you want. Respect your roommates and the community around you so that you can be surrounded by a safe environment. For those who take the proper precautions, the experience will be much more successful.
