ClearCause Featured in Three News Articles: Keeping Study Abroad Safe

ClearCause’s work to keep study abroad safe has recently been featured in three news articles from Minnesota Public Radio and the Minnesota Daily!

Read the Minnesota Public Radio article, the “Study abroad safely” editorial letter to the Minnesota Daily by Stacey Tsantir, ClearCause board member emeritus and Director of International Health, Safety and Compliance and the “Prioritizing student safety abroad,” article written by the Minnesota Daily Editorial Board.

All three articles discuss how ClearCause is advocating for safety and regulations in study abroad programs. The MPR article reported that MN Sen. Terri Bonoff and MN Rep. Yvonne Selcer will be drafting legislation this coming session after working alongside ClearCause.The “Prioritizing student safety abroad” article by the Minnesota Daily’s Editorial Board agreed  that Congress should increase safety in study abroad. Stacey Tsantir’s letter to the editor in the Minnesota Daily reflects on Clery Act Reporting and thoughtful considerations.

ClearCause founder Sheryl Hill commented on the article written by the Minnesota Daily Editorial Board, saying, “Students and families have the right to know the safety record, mishaps, and 'what the heck goes on over there' when programs escort our best and brightest into foreign countries and the trip goes south.

Global understanding is an awesome goal. Our best and brightest have fallen from windows and balconies that are not to 'US' code. They have been placed in housing without fire safety. When you have a fair mechanism for reporting that protects and informs our leaders in the industry will be the funnel for 'study applaud' and the safest programs will hopefully be championing more of our kids, instead of the cheapest ones.

Companies that sex/labor traffic foreign students in the U.S.A. have been sanctioned by the U S DOS since 2011. (CETUSA; PIE) Our best and brightest students deserve no less. THANK YOU DAILY EDITORIAL BOARD for this compelling article. I believe, wholeheartedly, that Minnesota (including the UofM) will set and raise the bar for Minnesota, America and potentially the world. Safety means the world to our students on programs abroad. Safety is NOT an accident. Our goal at ClearCause is transparency in an industry held to the highest standards, zero preventable deaths and injuries in student programs abroad.”

Have you used your voice to advocate for study abroad reform – to set a high standard and make it the best it can be?