As of March 30, 2026, there are new developments tied to the ongoing conflict involving the United States, Iran, and Saudi Arabia. Reports and statements are circulating that Iran has threatened to target U.S.-affiliated campuses in the region.
And now, I find myself coming back—again—to something I’ve already talked about multiple times.
My college. The one I graduated from. The one I won’t name. And their plan to build a campus in Riyadh.
This is now the third time I’m writing about it.
Because this situation keeps evolving in ways that make that decision look worse and worse.
When I first raised concerns, I wasn’t talking about war. I wasn’t predicting anything like what we’re seeing now. I was talking about internal conditions—policies, cultural differences, safety concerns for students, especially Americans or anyone who might not fully align with the norms of that country.
And even then, I said something simple.
The region is unstable.
Not in a dramatic, alarmist way. Just as a reality. A long-standing, widely understood reality.
Now fast forward to where we are today.
There has been active conflict. Iran has already carried out attacks impacting Saudi Arabia and other countries in the region. Tensions are high. Retaliation is ongoing. And now there are threats—direct or indirect—against U.S.-affiliated institutions.
Including campuses.
So now the question isn’t theoretical anymore.
It’s not “what if something happens?”
Something is happening.
And that changes everything.
Because when a college decides to build a campus abroad—especially in a region with known geopolitical tensions—they are taking on a responsibility that goes beyond academics. It’s not just about expanding globally or creating opportunities. It’s about student safety, faculty safety, and contingency planning for worst-case scenarios.
And this is exactly the kind of scenario that needs to be considered.
What happens if a campus becomes a target?
What happens if tensions escalate even further?
What happens if students and staff need to evacuate quickly—but can’t?
These are not abstract questions anymore. These are real concerns in a region where active conflict is unfolding and where U.S. affiliations can carry additional risk.
And that’s the part that’s hard to ignore.
Because I didn’t predict a war. I didn’t predict specific attacks. But I did say the region was unstable. And now that instability is no longer something you can brush off or downplay.
It’s visible.
It’s active.
It’s escalating.
And in that context, building or maintaining a campus in a place like Riyadh becomes more than just a strategic or educational decision. It becomes a risk calculation—one that directly affects the lives of students and faculty.
Maybe the college has plans in place. Maybe they have security measures, evacuation protocols, contingency strategies. I would hope they do.
But even with all of that, there’s still a fundamental question that needs to be asked.
Is it worth it?
Is expanding into a region experiencing active conflict and rising threats really the right move right now?
Because education is supposed to create opportunity, not put people in harm’s way.
And while global campuses can be valuable, they shouldn’t come at the cost of safety.
At this point, this isn’t about speculation anymore.
It’s about reality.
And the reality is that the risks are no longer hypothetical—they are unfolding in real time.
So again, I’ll say it.
Colleges need to seriously reconsider plans to build or operate campuses in regions like this, especially under current conditions.
Because the stakes are too high to ignore.
And what once sounded like a caution is now sounding a lot more like a warning.