“Amanda e gli Altri” (Amanda and the Others) was published in 2008 and quotes from her personal journal and notebooks, including details about her sexual activity and private health records.

No matter the news source is in this difficult case, there are consistently two very firm camps of supporters.  The comments from the Knox camp continue to insist that this young woman did not show up for study abroad in Italy with no prior criminal record and suddenly become a murderer.  The Kercher camp is insistent that Amanda Knox played a role in the death of Meredith Kercher and wonders why people are showing any sympathy for “Foxy Knoxy,” as Ms. Knox is frequently referred to in the tabloid press.  One comment from Ms. Kercher’s supporters suggested that this “award” should be donated to the family of Ms. Kercher.

If you watched the TLC show on the subject of the Knox/Kercher case last night, the Knox family spoke of the pain that the Kercher family must be living with and Ms. Kercher’s photo and date of her murder were posted several times, including during the closing credits.  However, the TLC show clearly emphasized the case from the perspective of the Knox family and supporters.

As I have stated before, I do not know Ms. Knox and did not know Ms. Kercher. I write about this case because as a study abroad administrator and blogger, I have responsibility to share information and raise questions.  Study abroad professionals wear many hats which not only include providing sound academic advising for courses abroad, but we typically serve as one of the first points of contact should there be an emergency. I often think about how I would have handled that first phone call to my university had I been Ms. Knox’s study abroad adviser.  Would I have offered sage advice and been a supportive ear?  Would I have gone into ultra protective American litigious mode?  Would I have called the US consulate for a legal referral?  Would that have helped her if she is innocent?

I also think a lot about Ms. Kercher.  What if she were one of “my students?”  (Those of us in the field know what I mean here: when you send a student abroad, you suddenly feel that they are “yours” – they represent your love for the field, your hopes for youth, perhaps even your own family.)  I cannot imagine losing one of “my students.”  And certainly, I cannot imagine the pain that her family experiences every day.

Theo Cohen: Syracuse University study abroad student (Pan Am 103)

I will share a deeply personal story with my readers:  While in college, I learned about the death of a high school classmate. Theodora Cohen (known to her friends as Theo) was a brilliant student from Syracuse University. She was one of the unfortunate young people who was murdered on PanAm 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland.   While I was not a close friend of Theo, I do remember seeing her in many plays in our high school; she was a talented, poised, confident and beautiful artist. She died at 20 years old and I remember turning on the TV and seeing the look on her parents’ faces as they ran through JFK airport, hoping that the news of the crash was not true.  Even though I was a young woman in college, I remember being overwhelmed by what her family must have been feeling.  I had nightmares for years about Theo’s death.  I was a study abroad student in London as an undergraduate and perhaps her death is one reason that I became a study abroad adviser.

I am reminded by these memories and experiences that in Italy, there are two lives that are lost here, whether Ms. Knox is “guilty” or not.  And tonight, I am reminded of another beautiful and vibrant young woman who lost her life, needlessly.  Rest in peace Meredith and Theo – and all of those who perished on Pam Am 103 and in Lockerbie, Scotland. And whether you are guilty or innocent, Amanda, may you find some peace to get you through this experience also.

Boy, travel sure has changed since then.

Thanks to the antics of the “Christmas Day bomber” over Detroit, the rules and processes for entering the US resulted in a bit of Transportation Security Administration lunacy.  First, we were told that airlines landing in the US would not be permitted to allow passengers to stand one hour before arrival.  Then we were told that no one could cover their lap with a blanket, jacket or anything else, including a magazine.

I had to ask myself the obvious questions: Couldn’t someone light their undergarments 1 hour into a flight (vs 1 hour prior to landing)?  Or couldn’t someone ignite something hiding in the sleeve of a shirt (vs on their actual lap)?  Wasn’t this getting a bit silly?  I mean really, if you’re willing to blow your private parts up for the sake of terrorism, I think you could get up an hour and ten minutes before landing and achieve the same outcome in the toilet vs. in your seat?

I don’t mean to minimize the importance of security.  I want to be safe at the airport and on the plane as much as the next person. Yet, when I really stop and think about the number of flights going into and out of any major airport in the States, I am humbly reminded that safety cannot ever be guaranteed.  That is, unless each person that attempts to get on a plane arrives 6 – 10 hours before a flight, is strip searched, has a body scan, has every item in their possession analyzed and tested for chemicals and after the trauma of all of that, likely will need some emotional comfort before proceeding to their seat! (After all, we do love our therapy in the US!)

But really now – who wants to live in a world that has to operate this way?

Considering the number of flights that depart/arrive in the US each day, we seem to have relatively few security issues.  Statistically, we are doing pretty well.  Yet when something does go wrong, the TSA’s response is to come up with knee-jerk, laughable rules that last a week until someone sits down and realizes how truly ridiculous they are.

Somehow, instead of laughing, I just feel rather sad about the whole thing. I feel such a deep loss that a young man could be convinced that setting off an explosion in his underwear would be a useful and productive way to communicate a message of anger and hatred.  I even feel sad about the loss of his future, one that once appeared so promising. I feel for his parents and imagine their confusion and horror. I feel for the people on that flight who could have lost their lives. I think of their families and friends, particularly since I went to high school with a remarkable young woman who died on Pan Am 103.  How does one go on when such a tragedy occurs to a loved one?

And at the same time, I cannot help but think -  Is  it more ridiculous to blow up your undies than to have to monitor how much water you drink on a flight because you can’t get up 60 minutes before you land?

And today I am asking myself – what went wrong in this world that I have to write such a horrific blog post?