Spring Break
Letter: Student Senate president says take heed of state department warnings
Issue date: 3/12/09 Section: Editorial/Opinion
03/12/09 - To the Cigar,
Last week the Cigar published an article warning students traveling to Mexico for Spring Break. Here are some tips and advice for those students who are still going across the border offered by the U.S. Department of State.
Register so the State Department can better assist you in an emergency: Register your travel plans with the State Department through a free online service at https://travelregistration.state.gov. This will help us contact you if there is a family emergency in the U.S., or if there is a crisis where you are traveling
Sign passport, and fill in the emergency information
Leave copies of itinerary and passport data page: Leave copies of your itinerary, passport data page and visas with family or friends.
Check your overseas medical insurance coverage: Ask your medical insurance company if your policy applies overseas, and plan accordingly.
Familiarize yourself with local conditions and laws: The State Department web site at has useful safety and other information about the countries you will visit.
Take precautions to avoid being a target of crime: To avoid being a target of crime, do not wear conspicuous clothing or jewelry and do not carry excessive amounts of money. Also, do not leave unattended luggage in public areas and do not accept packages from strangers.
Contact the state department in an emergency: Consular personnel at U.S. Embassies and Consulates abroad and in the U.S. are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to provide emergency assistance to U.S. citizens. Contact information for U.S. Embassies and Consulates appears on the Bureau of Consular Affairs website at http://travel.state.gov. Also note that the Office of Overseas Citizen Services in the State Department's Bureau of Consular Affairs may be reached for assistance with emergencies at 1-888-407-4747, if calling from the U.S. or Canada, or 202-501-4444, if calling from overseas.
Have fun and travel safe!
Thomas Ahrens
Student Senate President
Last week the Cigar published an article warning students traveling to Mexico for Spring Break. Here are some tips and advice for those students who are still going across the border offered by the U.S. Department of State.
Register so the State Department can better assist you in an emergency: Register your travel plans with the State Department through a free online service at https://travelregistration.state.gov. This will help us contact you if there is a family emergency in the U.S., or if there is a crisis where you are traveling
Sign passport, and fill in the emergency information
Leave copies of itinerary and passport data page: Leave copies of your itinerary, passport data page and visas with family or friends.
Check your overseas medical insurance coverage: Ask your medical insurance company if your policy applies overseas, and plan accordingly.
Familiarize yourself with local conditions and laws: The State Department web site at has useful safety and other information about the countries you will visit.
Take precautions to avoid being a target of crime: To avoid being a target of crime, do not wear conspicuous clothing or jewelry and do not carry excessive amounts of money. Also, do not leave unattended luggage in public areas and do not accept packages from strangers.
Contact the state department in an emergency: Consular personnel at U.S. Embassies and Consulates abroad and in the U.S. are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to provide emergency assistance to U.S. citizens. Contact information for U.S. Embassies and Consulates appears on the Bureau of Consular Affairs website at http://travel.state.gov. Also note that the Office of Overseas Citizen Services in the State Department's Bureau of Consular Affairs may be reached for assistance with emergencies at 1-888-407-4747, if calling from the U.S. or Canada, or 202-501-4444, if calling from overseas.
Have fun and travel safe!
Thomas Ahrens
Student Senate President
