COLLEGE MAY CALL IN STUDENTS SEMESTER IN ISRAEL COULD GET CUT SHORT.

Byline: Bhavna Mistry Staff Writer

VALENCIA - Students at the Israeli campus of The Master's College could be asked to come home early from their studies as increased terrorist attacks and escalation of violence in the Holy Land prompts security concerns.

The 25 students participating in the Christian college's spring semester abroad may return April 20 as administrators consider options following a State Department advisory asking that U.S. citizens defer travel, noting the potential for further terrorist acts.

``The key consideration is the safety of the kids,'' said Richard Mayhue, executive vice president of The Master's College and Seminary. ``We are considering whether to allow the kids to stay on or whether to bring them home two weeks early.''

Students enrolled in the Israel Bible Extension program are scheduled to return May 4, which ends their 15-week laboratory experience on studying the Bible and a chance to get acquainted with the Israelis and their culture.

``Based on connections we have with military intelligence, we think it's pertinent for the kids to stay there for at least the next three weeks,'' Mayhue said. ``Things are not significantly different today than they were three weeks ago. I don't want to underplay or minimize the seriousness of what is there but it's not the same in all locations in Israel.''

If the school decides to bring students back, they will be allowed to participate in their final field trip - a six-night excursion to the Sea of Galilee scheduled from Wednesday through April 16. This is the site believed to be where Jesus broke bread and fed thousands.

``They will be seeing 98 percent of the sites they would normally see,'' Varner said, adding he would be disappointed if the students returned early, but satisfied knowing they visited most of the schedule historical sites.

In a typical semester, students spend 26 days on academic outings, though tours of Bethlehem have been canceled for the past two semesters.

While school officials are confident the campus 10 miles outside of Jerusalem is safe, they have restricted student movement from school grounds with the exception of designated field trips.

``They are restricted from high-profile areas and not allowed to ride public buses, visit malls or other major public areas,'' said William Varner, director of the IBEX program. ``We need to be realistic as to when it's being too risky. But we are one of the few American institutions that have continued our academic programs thus far.''

While school officials said they must make the final decision, they know the students would want to stay.

``If we took a poll of our students, they would say they don't want to come back,'' Varner said. ``They are not experiencing any (of the war zone). They are safe.''

Serena Farlow, 22, an Idaho native currently studying in Israel with Master's College, agreed with administrators and said during a telephone interview from the campus Thursday she felt safer in Israel than in America.

``I'm less fearful living here than I would be if I was in the United States,'' Farlow said. ``I know there's tension here and there always will be. I'm grateful we've been able to stay.''

Farlow said she keeps up with current events by watching an English- language nightly news broadcast, or by logging onto the CNN Web site.

``It seems like when you watch the news you don't see how hard people are working to protect us,'' Farlow said. ``You don't hear about all the suicide bombers they catch before they blow themselves up. But we do.''

While students are reluctant to return home, parents are left to worry about them.

Following the State Department's advisory, at least two parents called the college and asked the students return home. School officials said they were able to calm the parents fears.

``We have been in contact with all the parents and they are not overly concerned,'' Mayhue said. ``They trust the judgment of the college.''

One parent, who asked not to be named, said she was concerned for her son's safety. But she later decided to leave the final decision to school officials, but is anxious to have the students return to the U.S.

``Our students have never been involved with or seen an explosion, tank in position, a gun fired, a bleeding person, an ambulance racing to or from a scene, or the remains of a blown-out building. Like their parents they have seen it on CNN,'' said professor William Schlegel, who has lived in Israel for 20 years, in a written statement.

The Israeli campus, which consists of dorms, eating facilities and classrooms, is located at Moshav Yad HaShmonah, an Israeli settlement located in the Judean Hills outside of Jerusalem.

For the past seven years, The Master's College had leased facilities on the settlement, which was started in 1971 by Finnish immigrants and Messianic believers, who also operate a tourist guest house and furniture store.

The only time the college withdrew its students from the satellite campus was following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

``In the post Sept. 11, there was some concern there may be a greater international involvement in the Middle East and we brought our students back,'' Varner said.

Hosting spring and fall semesters in Israel as well as summer and short-term academic sessions, the college provides students with not only a comprehensive study of the bible but also lessons in geography, history of the land and modern civilization.

``We have a commitment in studying in Israel and are supportive of their existence as a state,'' Varner said. ``We want to show solidarity as a nation as a whole.''

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Students of The Master's College in Valencia studying in Israel pose for a group photo.