Linette Garcia | Staff Writer
As tensions rise between the United States, Israel, and Iran, it’s easy to think of the conflict as something distant—something unfolding across oceans, far removed from the daily lives of regular people like you and me. But that distance is an illusion. The consequences of the Iran 2026 war are no longer confined to oil markets or foreign policy briefings; they are seeping into our academic spaces that are supposed to encourage open conversations.
Study abroad and international scholarship programs are some of the first things to collapse when conflict escalates. We’ve already seen universities in the Middle East shut down, move online, or restrict access because they’re being considered potential targets. Even worse, American-affiliated institutions abroad are now facing direct threats, forcing evacuations and closures.
That matters for FIU students more than it might seem. FIU prides itself on being one of the most globally connected campuses in Florida. Programs involving the Middle East—whether through political science, international relations, or cultural exchange—depend on partnerships, travel, and trust. War erodes all three. If universities abroad aren’t safe, FIU can’t send its students there. And if governments issue travel warnings, schools often suspend programs entirely, erasing cultural immersion opportunities.
Scholarships tied to international collaboration rely on stable diplomatic relationships. Despite a two-week provisional ceasefire between the three countries, tensions are increasing, and the funding will be redirected. Although I don’t think every Middle East-related scholarship will vanish, there will be stricter requirements and more political scrutiny. Students with ties to the region may also face challenges, especially as universities become more cautious about affiliations.
We’re already seeing signs of that tension spill onto campuses. A University of Washington professor was recently removed as director after expressing views about the conflict—who’s to say the same consequence won’t happen to a faculty member or a student at FIU?
Without strong ties to the Middle East, FIU risks losing part of what makes it globally relevant. International connections fading means losing research collaborations, cultural events, student organizations, and partnerships. We are already divided enough as a nation by political and global issues—weakened relationships deepen the disconnect, not bridge it.
So, do I think ties between FIU—or American universities, in general—and the Middle East will be completely severed? Not completely. But they will likely lessen. The current war has already disrupted many colleges, threatened academic institutions, and forced programs to shut down or go remote. The long-term effect won’t be a dramatic “cut,” but a slow distancing. Losing these international perspectives would be the greatest consequence for FIU and its students.
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