Not Safe. Do not go. April 09, 2024

By (Ethics, University of Washington) - abroad from 06/15/2023 to 07/25/2023 with

Sea|mester: S/Y Argo - Global Voyages

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned not to trust this program and that this program will not protect its students. And if something does happen, you will also receive punishment for coming forward about it.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 1 month - 6 months

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

I went on a Seamester voyage and there were multiple failures in the protection of students on multiple of the vessels. During my voyage in the summer of 2023 on Argo, one of the students was sexually assaulted, and being harassed by another student. She told the staff about this and said she just wanted the behavior to stop. After a week of discussion with the office, both the assaulter and her were kicked off the boat because they were “causing too much drama”. This was despite the testimony of other students also saying the male assaulter had unsafe tendencies towards them and they witnessed his inappropriate behavior. This resulted in many of the female students feeling unsafe to come to the staff about violence towards them in fear that they would also be kicked off the boat. Along with this, another boat that was part of Seamester during the same time, summer 2023, had a female student that was raped by a male student. Do not go. This is not a safe program.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Administration failed to protect this student. This is despite multiple students advocating for her, providing testimony, and describing the situation that they witnessed.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Unsafe.

* Food:

Food was good and made by students and staff together.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Did not interact with local cultures.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

There was medical staff aboard.

* Safety:

Unsafe for anyone. Do not risk it.

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? No

Finances

* Money: How easily were you able to live on a student's budget?

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Other
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • sunsets
  • ability to learn about sailing
  • learning to scuba dive
* What could be improved?
  • Safety
  • Conducting proper investigations
  • Not punishing victims
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? This is not a safe program for anyone and is a place that breeds tolerance for sexual assault.