Tufts is exploring the possibility of creating a study abroad program in Cuba, though plans are still in the early stages. Romance language associate professor Claudia Lenoir and Dean of the Colleges Charles Inouye visited the communist country over break and estimate that it will take at least four years to set up Tufts-in-Cuba.
If established, the program would be Tufts' only study abroad option in a Central American country and one of two in Latin America.
While Cuba's political climate causes thousands of people to attempt to leave the country each year, Lenoir says it is one of the safest places to study abroad. "Cuba is especially propitious for this kind of study, with one of the most developed educational systems in the area," she said.
According to Lenoir, the many other US universities that have already instituted programs in Cuba have not found safety an issue. "The history of US animosity towards Cuba does not translate into aggression that would endanger the lives of American students studying abroad there," she said.
For the program to happen, the University needs to make a full commitment to it, according to Latino Center Director Ruben Salinas Stern. "I think it's going to take a while. Cuba doesn't do this very easily," he said. "From Cuba's end, they need to see that there is actually genuine interest."
But even if Tufts commits, it will take several years to get the program up and running. "We are certainly not abandoning the idea, but we are going about it in a paced way. No program is established in one year," Lenoir said. "It takes about four years."
To be allowed to visit Cuba, travelers must apply for special license from the US Treasury Department. Over winter break, the Latino Center took a group of students there, and the trip was allowed because it was for educational purposes.
Senior Angel Vail, who visited Cuba with the Latino Center over the break, agreed with Lenoir's assessment that the country is safe to visit. "The people were really friendly," she said. "If people know that you're not from Cuba, they'll come over to you" to help, looking for tips in American currency.
The motivation for establishing a program in Cuba is that it would allow students to gain an understanding of Cuban culture. According to Stern, simply studying the country from afar is not sufficient.
"Cuba is portrayed in a very sort of black and white and superficial way," Stern said. "We don't really have a relationship with Cuba, and it makes it difficult for people to find out what's going on over there."
The Latino Center's recent trip focused primarily on experiencing Cuban culture. The group went to museums, libraries, and universities, and met with Cubans and visited their homes. Vail said that many of the younger students expressed interest in going abroad to Cuba if they had the chance.
Until students can spend semesters in Cuba, the Latino Center may use winter trips to build relationships with Cuba. Stern hopes to repeat the trip next January. Vail agreed that winter trips are a good temporary way to solve demand for learning about Cuba, saying the trips give students of any race a chance to study a myriad of interests in Cuba, from music to history.
Emily Chasan and Adam Pulver contributed to this article.
