Spring Break
Horrors of Mexico alter student perception of South-of-the-Border
Greg Gentile
Issue date: 3/4/09 Section: News
03/04/09 - Thousands of college students flock to Mexico for Spring Break every year, while drug wars and dangerous situations run rampant in the country.
It is becoming increasingly important for students to be aware of these issues. The U.S. Department of State has been posting travel advisory warnings on its Web site since the summer about growing problems with the drug war and safety issues.
"Armed street crime is a serious problem in all of the major cities," the Web site stated in August. "Some bars and nightclubs, especially in resort cities such as Cancun, Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlan, Acapulco and Tijuana, can be havens for drug dealers and petty criminals."
Students' awareness of the drug war and safety measures are growing, and it seems today's concerns vary from nonexistent to making Spring Break a dominant issue.
"I wouldn't go anywhere where it would be unsafe," University of Rhode Island senior Leslie Barber said.
Students are aware of the issues, but don't want that to stop them from having fun, according to freshman Paul Cabral. "It wouldn't stop me, but I'd be more cautious when I went," Cabral said.
The increase in conflict and faltering safety standards at resorts are pushing students away from traveling. "Spring Break isn't worth my life," URI freshman Zach Luis said.
For one traveling Massachusetts student, that's exactly what it cost.
Maureen Webster started mexicovacationawareness.com after her 22-year-old son died from drowning at a resort in Mexico last January. The Websters had given their son Nolan and his girlfriend tickets to Mexico as a graduation present. Nolan went to University of Massachusetts at Lowell.
To this day, no one knows exactly what happened, or how Nolan ended up drowning in the resort pool. His mother wants to inform the public about inadequate safety and possibly dangerous situations in Mexico.
Webster said the main problem is that "their safety standards are not our safety standards."
It is becoming increasingly important for students to be aware of these issues. The U.S. Department of State has been posting travel advisory warnings on its Web site since the summer about growing problems with the drug war and safety issues.
"Armed street crime is a serious problem in all of the major cities," the Web site stated in August. "Some bars and nightclubs, especially in resort cities such as Cancun, Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlan, Acapulco and Tijuana, can be havens for drug dealers and petty criminals."
Students' awareness of the drug war and safety measures are growing, and it seems today's concerns vary from nonexistent to making Spring Break a dominant issue.
"I wouldn't go anywhere where it would be unsafe," University of Rhode Island senior Leslie Barber said.
Students are aware of the issues, but don't want that to stop them from having fun, according to freshman Paul Cabral. "It wouldn't stop me, but I'd be more cautious when I went," Cabral said.
The increase in conflict and faltering safety standards at resorts are pushing students away from traveling. "Spring Break isn't worth my life," URI freshman Zach Luis said.
For one traveling Massachusetts student, that's exactly what it cost.
Maureen Webster started mexicovacationawareness.com after her 22-year-old son died from drowning at a resort in Mexico last January. The Websters had given their son Nolan and his girlfriend tickets to Mexico as a graduation present. Nolan went to University of Massachusetts at Lowell.
To this day, no one knows exactly what happened, or how Nolan ended up drowning in the resort pool. His mother wants to inform the public about inadequate safety and possibly dangerous situations in Mexico.
Webster said the main problem is that "their safety standards are not our safety standards."
