A group of WSU students, staff and faculty will travel to Cuba after a recent change in travel restrictions.

Even with the recent lift of restrictions on travel to Cuba, tourists are not authorized in the country. The change in restrictions allows educational and other approved groups to travel to Cuba without applying for special permission. Prior to the lifting of restrictions, all groups needed a special license to enter the country.

Jessica Cassleman, assistant dean of the WSU Honors College and the faculty member leading the trip, said it will expose participants to a country that has been closed off for more than 50 years. She said the opportunity to travel to Cuba is unique due to the transitions in the country's government.

It is important for students to be aware of the significance of communication with other cultures and able to relate cross-culturally, she said.

“I feel that Cuba is a place where students will have to think very critically,” Cassleman said.

She said she wants the students to see the differences between the two cultures, but to also recognize the similarities.

“There are some issues with Cuba and I think that students should be aware of that, but they are also human beings like we all are,” she said.

Manuel Garcia-Perez, assistant professor of biological systems engineering, has familial ties to Cuba and has traveled to the country before. He said the trip will be a wonderful experience for the students.

“I think it is important that our students learn the value of their freedom and the need to preserve it even in times of hardships,” he said.

Students need to recognize that hard work is the door to a successful future, he said. He also sees benefits for the Cuban people the students meet while on the trip. He said the Cubans know about Miami due to its proximity to Cuba but will know little or nothing about the state of Washington. 

Cassleman said it is also important for students to accept different cultures and ethnic groups and to be exposed to a country that is diverse compared to the United States. The trip is open to all students, faculty and staff. Cassleman said there is a lot of interest in the trip but she will not know final numbers until the application deadline of Feb. 1. At least 15 participants are needed to keep costs at the current price.

Vice Provost of International Programs Prema Arasu said they made the decision to open the trip to faculty and staff because they knew there would be a lot of interest in Cuba.

“It’s a great opportunity for shared learning in a unique socio-political setting and for their combined experiences to be shared back at home with all of us in the WSU community,” Arasu said.

WSU Vancouver History Professor Candice Goucher led a group of students to Cuba in 2002 under a Special License. She said WSU maintained the license in case another group wanted to travel to Cuba.

“We are one of the very few universities in United States to have maintained the license,” Goucher said.

Under that same license, former WSU Vancouver Chancellor Hal Dengerink led a group of faculty to Cuba. However, no other trips had been planned until the restrictions were lifted.

The trip is being organized through a travel authority called Cuba Authentic Travels. Cassleman said she chose this program for the experience of the staff and the lower cost they offered. Cassleman said she wants students to learn about Cuba's education, medical system and organic farming.

Students will have the opportunity to speak with university representatives, visit clinics and talk to local people, she said. Students will be able to recieve academic credit for the trip.

Students will meet throughout the semester to learn about Cuba and the trip will serve as a case study for the course, Cassleman said. She said the students will journal about their experience and turn in a report discussing what they learned.

The ultimate questions she wants the students to investigate are how the Cuban people have survived with so little and what has happened to the people as a result of government oppression. The trip is set for June 12 through June 23 and the estimated cost is $3,907, not including airfare.

For more information, contact Jessica Cassleman at casslema@wsu.edu.