Report: Toughen study abroad safety reporting

via PostBulletin

ST. PAUL — Minnesota colleges should be required to disclose when their students are victims of sexual assaults or other crimes while studying abroad, a state report said.

The Office of Higher Education recommends expanding a law passed last year that requires postsecondary institutions to report annually whether any of their students got sick or died on study abroad trips. It says including sexual assaults, robberies and other incidents in those disclosures will better inform students and parents.

The office expects to have the first wave of data from colleges and universities available to the public by January. The Secretary of State’s office will also report the best available information on crimes committed against students studying abroad.

Maren Gelle Henderson, a legislative liaison for the higher education office, said it may be best to wait for that first round of data before changing the law.

American students are studying abroad at more than three times the rate they did 20 years ago, according to the Institute of International Education. About 9,000 enrolled in study abroad programs through Minnesota colleges and universities in the 2012-2013 school year.

Minnesota’s reporting law is the first of its kind in the nation, according to the Office of Higher Education. . . . .

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“China, US Go Tit for Tat over Student Spying Cases”

In response to the previous article talking about the US Espionage Video.  I’m not sure how much of it is true, but I pretty much find it despicable that any nation would endanger the welfare and futures of students in that manner.

by Julie Makinin via “Stripes.com“

“BEIJING — Call it a 21st-century version of Mad magazine’s Spy vs. Spy.

Three weeks after the FBI rolled out an odd, ripped-from-the-headlines microfilm about an American college student who was recruited to spy for Beijing, China has now released its own, very similar tales of young Chinese students being lured into espionage activities by foreign agents.

The student spying stories come as the U.S. is trying to encourage more Americans to study in China, and as China has become the biggest source of foreign students in U.S. colleges and universities.

16 Alarming Airline Secrets That Will Change How You Feel About Flying

by Suzy Strutner via “Huffington Post“

Previously, we’ve had minor freak-outs upon learning that people habitually steal airplane lifejackets and the flight crew will refill your water bottle if you ask. But have you ever wondered if pilots stay awake the whole flight, or if anyone’s touched your complimentary pillow before? [Spoiler alert: LOTS of people have.]

A curious Reddit user asked airline professionals for facts about flying we might not already know. The answers (from flight attendants, pilots, engineers and frequent fliers) revealed a series of secrets you’re going to wish you never knew… either because they’re so useful, or because they’re so utterly revolting.

We’ve added a few of our own world-rocking facts to the list, and we’ve gotta tip our hat to Viral Quake for posting some of the Reddit thread’s most startling secrets. We should also mention the validity of individual Reddit comments can’t be completely confirmed.

That being said, we’re already thinking about flying from a whole new perspective.

Dim lights are meant to prepare you for evacuation, not sleep.
“When a plane is landing at night, they dim the interior lights incase you need to evacuate upon landing… your eyes are already adjusted to the darkness so you’ll be able to see better once outside the plane.” –@bonestamp

You can unlock a lavatory from the outside.
“You are able to unlock airplane lavatories from the outside. There is usually a lock mechanism concealed behind the no smoking badge on the door. Just lift the flap up and slide the bolt to unlock.” –@threeway

You’re breathing engine air. 
“The air you breathe on an airplane is actually compressed air taken from the engines. A large portion (25% to 50%) is blown in the flightdeck, the rest is for the passengers. The air leaves the airplane via a small hole in the back of the fuselage.” –@virgadays

Those blankets have NOT been washed. Also, there’s a solid chance your tray table has poo on it. 
“I worked for Southwest as a flight attendant. Those blankets and pillows? Yeah, those just get refolded and stuffed back in the bins between flights. Only fresh ones I ever saw were on an originating first flight in the morning in a provisioning city. Also, if you have ever spread your peanuts on your tray and eaten, or really just touched your tray at all, you have more than likely ingested baby poo. I saw more dirty diapers laid out on those trays than food. And those trays, yeah, never saw them cleaned or sanitized once.” –@melhow44

The captain is allowed to arrest you mid-flight.
The captain has almost limitless authority when the doors are closed. He is allowed to arrest people, write fines and even take the will of a dying passenger.” –@virgadays

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“10 Travel Tips from HamletHub and Red Cross”

by Tom Zareki via “HamletHub“

“Now that Christmas is behind us and the local weather is calling for a VERY sunny weekend and sunny skies right through New Year’s Day, remember there are still millions of Americans traveling in less-than-familiar locations. You may be one of those travelers, or be one car away from someone who is.

The HamletHub team wants to make sure you’re not involved in a travel accident, so using the vast information on the American Red Cross web site, we’ve collected TONS of information on safe travel, and have narrowed their many travel tips down to an easy-to-digest list.

TRAVEL TIP #10: CAN’T TOUCH THIS!

When travelling, remember that nearly everything you touch has been touched by someone else: airplane arm rests, luggage, grocery bags, gas pump handles, door handles,  . . . .”

 

10 travel scams you might not know about

by Ray Pagliarulo via “Budge Travel”

“Remember the days when a fanny pack and a “game face” could protect you from getting your money stolen? We don’t either! Vacationers have always been targets for smart, enterprising crooks, and the farther you get from home, the easier it is to fall for popular vacation scams like the dropped baby, the fake fight and the I-need-five-euros-to-replace-my-lost-train-ticket. But these days, you are at risk for more than just some lost bills. Watch out for these scams from around the world that can put your personal safety—and even your very identity—at risk. . . . .”