U. students studying abroad in Paris recount experiences of Friday's attacks

In the aftermath of terrorist attacks in Paris on Friday, at least 10 University students have been identified as studying abroad in the city this semester, and some said they have been impacted from living in the city during the attacks.

At least 129 people have died as a result of Friday’s attacks in Paris as of Sunday. Six locations — including the Bataclan concert hall, the Stade de France and two restaurants — were attacked. French President François Hollande declared a state of emergency in response to the attacks.

Students currently in Paris come from a number of departments including French and Italian, comparative literature and the Wilson School.

Director of Study Abroad program Mell Bolen did not respond to a request for comment. Department representative for the Wilson School Christina Davis, Wilson School Associate Dean Nathan Scovronick, French and Italian department representative Efthymia Rentzou were unavailable for comment. Comparative literature department chair Eileen Reeves did not respond to a request for comment.

“Honestly, I had no idea what was happening,” Taylor Pearson ’17, who is currently studying at Sciences Po, a public research institution, through a Wilson School exchange program, said.

She said that she knew of the attacks through text messages from friends and family asking if she was safe.

“I was really lucky because I literally had walked to my apartment at the time it had happened,” she said, noting how sites of the terrorist attacks included dorms as well as bars, restaurants and nightclubs that attract a younger audience such as college students.

Alex Costin ’17, who is studying at Sciences Po through the Wilson School and the politics department, said he found out about the attacks in an email from his grandmother. He then turned on the news.

“At that point I heard about dozen ambulances or police cars fly by right outside the window,” he said. “From that point on it was pretty clear what was going on.”

Both Pearson and Costin said that they were unsure what was going on during the first few hours after the attacks and felt unsafe.

“As a person living in Paris, obviously the first couple hours were … a little uncertain about exactly where it was,” Costin said, adding that he stayed on the phone with his family so they knew he was safe.

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Costin also noted that there had been unconfirmed reports of gunfire in other parts of the city closer to where he was and was not sure if something was going to happen in his neighborhood as well.

Pearson said she was distraught on Friday night because she was alone in her apartment and was not sure what was going on.

“There was a lot of just craziness happening on the streets, people were really unsure of what was happening. And especially at night — you know when there’s intoxicated people — it can just become really crazy,” Pearson said. “And I just remember specifically on Friday night there were so many sirens and screaming and running, and I was really just worried for people who didn’t have a place to go.”

Pearson noted that that the Office of International Programs was reaching out to the students during the incident and sent them updates of the situation, as well as offering them counseling.

OIP Director Nancy Kanach did not respond to a request for comment.

Costin said that Paris is now more vigilant.

“I definitely feel more cautious and aware of my surroundings because of the Paris attacks two days ago, and it’s totally within the realm of possibility that something else could happen soon after,” Konadu Amoakuh ’17, who is also involved in the Sciences Po program, said.

Amoakuh is a former staff writer for The Daily Princetonian.

Pearson noted that there would probably be heightened security.

“I personally won’t be taking the Métro like I normally do. I might leave earlier and just walk all the way to school,” she said.

Pearson added she is unsure whether or not her classes will resume Monday.

The students said that study abroad programs in Paris should continue.

“I hope other students aren’t going to be dissuaded from coming here, it’s been a really wonderful experience for me so far,” Costin said, noting that it’s important for people to go back to daily life.

Amoakuh said that the Paris attacks could have happened anywhere, and added that she thinks the University has been good about contacting students who were abroad.

“If anything, this just has been another historical event that I’ve been able to witness that proves the work we still have to do to make the world a better place,” Pearson said.