Seven Hamilton students and a faculty member are traveling to Cuba over spring break to study the impact of the U.S. trade embargo on Cuban education, health care, and social services. Visiting Assistant Professor of Women's Studies Danielle DeMuth is leading the group of students that include Hilary King '05, Kris Rios '05, Jackie Kook '05, Emily Kerr '05, Shana Weinberg '05, Latoya Malcolm '06, and Elaine Martinez '07. Funding for the trip was provided by the Arthur Levitt Public Affairs Center at Hamilton and the trip was facilitated by the Witness for Peace Organization.
DeMuth noted, "Since virtually no U.S. citizens are permitted to travel to Cuba, this trip offers students an extremely rare opportunity to study the impact of U.S. policy firsthand.
"This trip, with its focus on pressing public policy issues, will be a powerful, engaging and intellectual experience for students," said DeMuth. The group will spend the majority of its time in Havana, where students will meet with economists, doctors, intellectuals, government officials, and representatives of the United States' Interest Section.
DeMuth said this is an opportunity that is unlikely to happen again. Though according to U.S. policy, American citizens may not legally travel to Cuba, but some organizations have been granted license to travel for educational purposes. Many of those licenses were revoked this summer and many more will not be renewed. Witness for Peace still has its license for travel to Cuba through April.
