Travel Ban Placed on London Students
The university has placed a mandate on the London campus, no longer permitting travel outside of the UK because of the pandemic. (Courtesy of Instagram)
For many students who study abroad, traveling to new places is a key part of the experience. However, travel beyond Great Britain is not permitted for students currently studying at Fordham’s London Centre. The travel ban is a university-enforced and university-created mandate. The goal is to limit COVID-19 transmission and prevent students from being exposed to the virus through travel. According to Emma Bainbridge, GSB ’23, a student at the London campus, residents face expulsion if they travel away from Great Britain.
“The reason Fordham has instituted travel restrictions is to reduce as much as possible the transmission of COVID-19 among the students and faculty at Fordham in London. The students who are studying in London were well-informed of the travel restrictions and agreed to them as a condition of the program,” said Robert Howe, assistant vice president for communications and special adviser to the president, in a statement to The Fordham Ram.
Many students at the London Centre campus have found this ban disruptive and inhibiting in their experience studying abroad. Bainbridge, who has taken an active role in advocating against the ban, created a petition urging Fordham to lift the travel ban. In addition to starting the petition, Bainbridge has also written a statement to university administrators presenting student perspectives against the travel ban.
According to Bainbridge, the petition has received over 300 signatures, more than the number of students currently studying in London.
The petition gained over 200 signatures the day it was posted.
“Every single student I have spoken to has shared the same sentiment. We all, collectively, want to have the travel ban lifted. We finally decided to do something about it, and here we are fighting this ban,” said Bainbridge.
The university argues that the travel ban is in place because of the omicron variant’s unique risks for the London campus.
According to Howe, unlike students on the New York campus, London students infected with COVID-19 would not be able to travel home to quarantine. Howe claims that because of this, a COVID-19 outbreak at the London campus would be harder to deal with, making a travel ban necessary.
However, many students on the London Centre campus find that the travel restrictions are unnecessary because they do not align with United Kingdom travel restrictions or rules.
On Feb. 11, Boris Johnson, prime minister of the United Kingdom, announced that all fully-vaccinated individuals would not have to test negative for COVID-19 to travel in or out of England and would not have to quarantine upon arrival. In addition to the government restrictions, Bainbridge also noted that Fordham seems to be one of the only college study abroad programs that has restrictions on travel.
In a statement written to the university, Bainbridge wrote that, “Notre Dame and Boston University’s London campuses have permitted their students to travel as they please.” Additionally, Bainbridge said that Syracuse University lifted its travel ban when Johnson announced the changes to travel protocol. Bainbridge and other Fordham London Centre students have stated that these restrictions have affected their entire study abroad experience.
“As young adults that are soon graduating from Fordham, it is important that we are well-rounded and well educated. Part of our education that we wanted to pursue by going abroad was broadening our cultural horizons. Being able to travel would mean we could better grow into more well-rounded individuals. We could learn how people from different cultures live,” said Bainbridge.
According to Bainbridge, limiting student travel and their ability to experience other cultures goes against Fordham’s Jesuit values.
“As a Jesuit university, we have been encouraged to learn and experience through all realms of knowledge. Fordham University has always claimed to create a well-rounded individual, but they fall short of that claim with these rules,” said Bainbridge in the statement to university officials.
“These rules have not only stopped us from traveling but have cut short our possible education while abroad. Fordham London Centre’s arbitrary travel ban is inherently against what we stand for as a university.”
Fordham London Centre students have also noted that students have been living in a pandemic for two years. “We are intelligent young adults who should be allowed to make decisions for ourselves. We have been in a pandemic for two years now, so we know how to stay safe and healthy. We are capable of following COVID-19 protocols while traveling,” said Bainbridge in the statement.
Howe said that the university would consider lifting travel restrictions pending COVID-19 conditions.
“Fordham has managed to hold in-person classes during the pandemic without experiencing serious illness by responding quickly to evolving pandemic conditions. The university will consider loosening Fordham London travel restrictions when conditions permit,” said Howe.
However, this statement runs contrary to what students at the London campus have heard. In the statement to the university, Bainbridge claimed that in a pre-departure meeting, the university claimed “that nothing would make them lift it even if COVID-19 disappeared.”
Bainbridge and students at the London Centre campus hope that the university will hear their requests and reconsider the travel ban through the petition and written statement.
Isabel Danzis is a senior from Bethesda, Md. She is double majoring in journalism and digital technologies and emerging media. The Ram has been a very...
Cynthia Luciano • Feb 25, 2022 at 5:26 pm
Despite religious exemptions, students have complied with all requirements to study abroad, particularly the vaccine mandate. According to Father McShane, “the return to overseas study are possible thanks to widespread vaccinations.” Yet, Fordham University is still holding onto obsolete guidance. Conditions worldwide have changed and enabled a broader range of travel opportunities. Students in New York can travel freely all over Europe and then back to New York. However, students studying at Fordham’s London Centre may not do the same.
Meanwhile, other universities with study abroad programs in London have no travel restrictions for their students. Why not Fordham? Why not continue leading the strong support to return to normalcy? We have been so impressed with the University’s response to the pandemic until this point.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson lifted covid-19 restrictions and ended the mask mandate and vaccine passports throughout the nation. The UK is a test-free country; now, restrictions are unnecessary because they do not align with United Kingdom travel rules. It is time to lift the travel restriction and allow students to make their own decisions with their parents.
Una Miller • Feb 25, 2022 at 5:05 pm
It is worthy to note that more European countries have announced a further easing of Covid-19 restrictions. UK travelers no longer need a negative Covid test to enter France. The rules came into force after an announcement from Prime Minister Jean Castex on Saturday, February 12. The change means travelers between the UK and France do not need to test on either end of their journey. Ireland has also dropped most of its travel and entry requirements. Denmark became the first EU nation to drop all Covid-19 restrictions and social distancing, mask-wearing and providing health passes for entry into establishments.
Fordham’s reliance on a state department rating does not match what these countries are actually allowing in terms of travel.
Bernard Siwik • Feb 25, 2022 at 4:53 pm
Extremely well written, as it captures the sentiment of most students and parents. The school should not take the easy route and push old rules but should evaluate the current conditions and modify accordingly.
Mirella Siwik • Feb 25, 2022 at 4:48 pm
It is time for this ban to be lifted. There is no logical reason for it and it goes against the current protocol of Great Britain. The students were told of the restriction in the fall after classes were selected. It was too late to apply to another program and deposits had been paid. Also last fall Covid infections were very high due to Omicron raging across Great Britain. That is not the case now. This stance is disappointing and goes against Jesuit values. Well written article.
Kimberly Doran • Feb 25, 2022 at 4:37 pm
Let these young adults travel!
This is crazy! You can get COVID from riding the bus in London
Going to another country is not going to make you more likely to get COVID
Amy Gwin • Feb 25, 2022 at 4:21 pm
As a parent of a student in the London program, I’m very frustrated about the ban on travel. Almost no masks are warn in London, the students are trusted to travel all over the UK, in crowds and on public transportation with people from all over the world, yet the arbitrary decision is being made that they would be at high risk traveling to France or Denmark. It just isn’t logical. I’m sad for the students missing great life experiences for no logical reason.