Mexico warnings alter students' Spring Break plans
Bailey McBride
Issue date: 3/11/09 Section: News
The phrase "Spring Break in Mexico" might call to mind frozen drinks, beaches and college students coming together from across the United States, but severe travel warnings from the State Department contradict that mental picture - and might affect some students' plans to travel across America's southern border this year.
The on-going drug wars on the Mexican border are forcing students across the nation and campus to change or even cancel their Spring Break plans to travel to Mexico this year.
Every year, "the vast majority enjoys their vacation without incident, several may die, hundreds will be arrested and still more will make mistakes that could affect them for the rest of their lives," according to the State Department.
This year, however, the State Department is paying particular attention to those traveling to Mexico. The Department issued a warning Feb. 20 for American citizens planning to visit the country in the coming month.
Though the majority of the violence that occurs in Mexico is along the United States-Mexico border, travelers throughout the country are advised to take heed of the increased danger as drug cartels fight against police and military forces for control of various drug trafficking routes.
The State Department advises those who still plan to travel south this Spring Break to use "common-sense precautions such as visiting only legitimate business and tourist areas during daylight hours, and avoiding areas where prostitution and drug dealing might occur."
Students are considering the current situation in Mexico, and altering their Spring Break plans accordingly.
"My family and I were going to go to Mexico, but we don't want to get captured by drug lords and used as drug mules to bring illegal substances into the country - and also Mexico doesn't have golf courses, so we're going to Hawaii instead," said senior anthropology and sociology major Collin Peel.
However, the warnings did not affect some students' opinions on the situation or their plans for the break.
"I didn't really consider going to Mexico, but, if I did, I don't think I would change my plans just because some drug lords can't get their acts together," said sophomore civil engineering major Summer Wilkie. "From what I've heard, the conflicts sound pretty silly, but I guess I wouldn't think it was that silly if I was kidnapped or murdered."
Even the UA Housing Department took heed of the travel warning and sent both a formal e-mail through the Housing listserv and an individual e-mail through each Resident Director directing students to the warnings on the State Department Web site.
According to travel.state.gov, the State Department's official Web site for international travel for American citizens, more than 100,000 young adults travel to resort areas in Mexico during Spring Break every year. The majority of altercations between the Mexican police and American travelers include alcohol, so the State Department advises visitors to drink responsibly, as "excessive alcohol consumption and unruly behavior can lead to serious problems with Mexican authorities."
The on-going drug wars on the Mexican border are forcing students across the nation and campus to change or even cancel their Spring Break plans to travel to Mexico this year.
Every year, "the vast majority enjoys their vacation without incident, several may die, hundreds will be arrested and still more will make mistakes that could affect them for the rest of their lives," according to the State Department.
This year, however, the State Department is paying particular attention to those traveling to Mexico. The Department issued a warning Feb. 20 for American citizens planning to visit the country in the coming month.
Though the majority of the violence that occurs in Mexico is along the United States-Mexico border, travelers throughout the country are advised to take heed of the increased danger as drug cartels fight against police and military forces for control of various drug trafficking routes.
The State Department advises those who still plan to travel south this Spring Break to use "common-sense precautions such as visiting only legitimate business and tourist areas during daylight hours, and avoiding areas where prostitution and drug dealing might occur."
Students are considering the current situation in Mexico, and altering their Spring Break plans accordingly.
"My family and I were going to go to Mexico, but we don't want to get captured by drug lords and used as drug mules to bring illegal substances into the country - and also Mexico doesn't have golf courses, so we're going to Hawaii instead," said senior anthropology and sociology major Collin Peel.
However, the warnings did not affect some students' opinions on the situation or their plans for the break.
"I didn't really consider going to Mexico, but, if I did, I don't think I would change my plans just because some drug lords can't get their acts together," said sophomore civil engineering major Summer Wilkie. "From what I've heard, the conflicts sound pretty silly, but I guess I wouldn't think it was that silly if I was kidnapped or murdered."
Even the UA Housing Department took heed of the travel warning and sent both a formal e-mail through the Housing listserv and an individual e-mail through each Resident Director directing students to the warnings on the State Department Web site.
According to travel.state.gov, the State Department's official Web site for international travel for American citizens, more than 100,000 young adults travel to resort areas in Mexico during Spring Break every year. The majority of altercations between the Mexican police and American travelers include alcohol, so the State Department advises visitors to drink responsibly, as "excessive alcohol consumption and unruly behavior can lead to serious problems with Mexican authorities."
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