Associated Press
PULLMAN — The exodus of Middle Eastern exchange students from Washington State University after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11 is over.
Officials at Washington State in Pullman said 47 students from the Middle East have returned to campus after leaving early fall semester.
"Their reasons for coming back are the reasons they came to WSU to begin with: WSU has programs they are interested in and a good reputation," said Paul Svaren, a manager for WSU’s International Programs.
Svaren said 55 enrolled students left in late September at the urging of their parents. Most were from the United Arab Emirates where television coverage of the September attacks was intense.
Virtually all were enrolled at WSU for the first time, after transferring from community colleges.
Most of the students who returned are from the UAE, except for one student each from Saudi Arabia, Oman and Kuwait. Most are in their early 20s.
"Their return is the result of letting things cool down and having parents’ fears abated," Svaren said. "The things they were afraid of aren’t happening here. If they want to study, Pullman is a better place to go than a whole lot of other places."
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