UNC-Chapel Hill to send students to Cuba.

The University of North Carolina has teamed up with the University of Havana to allow students to study abroad in Cuba.

Madge Hubbard, deputy director of UNC-Chapel Hill;s Study Abroad Office, will send eight students to the island the last week of January to study Cuban history, culture and international relations, along with Spanish grammar and language. They will remain in Cuba until May 15.

The Associated Press reported that UNC has sent students to Cuba before, but that they traveled under another university's government license, an OFAC requirement.

UNC's license was several years old and was awarded before new federal restrictions were in place. OFAC recently renewed UNC's license, allowing Carolina to send students and faculty to Cuba.

"I think what the program allows us to do, among many other things, is to place our students in a country that is intrinsically fascinating in terms of its history and culture," said Louis Perez, a UNC history professor who specializes in Cuba.

Added Evelyne Huber, the outgoing director of UNC's Institute of Latin American Studies: "Cuba is right next door to us. Whether there is going to be a peaceful transition or a violent transition there is of great importance to us."

Details: Arturo Escobar, Director/ILAS, University of North Carolina, CB #3205, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3205. Tel: [phone]. E-mail: [e-mail].