Bikinis. Suntans. Partying.
Students look forward to spring break all year, and in a perfect world, they would not have to admit that sometimes binge drinking in an exotic location with people you have just met can be a deadly combination.
The most popular spring break destinations are Cancun, Jamaica, Acapulco, South Padre Island and Panama City, according to a 2004 USA Today report.
With the media’s heavy coverage of 18-year-old Alabama student Natalee Holloway’s disappearance in Aruba in May, it is hard for students to ignore the potential dangers of spring break.
Bob Riley, the governor of Alabama, has recently called for the boycott of travel to Aruba in an attempt to receive more cooperation in the Holloway case from authorities in Aruba.
“I would not allow my daughter to go to Aruba,” he said.
Riley has asked his fellow governors to support him and make the boycott nationwide.
“I’m not nervous about going away for spring break, but the dangers of it are in the back of my mind,” said Andy Bean’06. “I would much rather go to Florida than a tropical island. My parents would feel better too if I went somewhere in the United States.”
In an ABC special news report called “Spring Break: Fun Can be Deadly,” which aired in March, spring break was called “the Super Bowl of hook-ups.” The report emphasized how binge drinking and casual sex are glamorized, which can be potentially dangerous, especially when date rape drugs are thrown into the mix.
Dean of Students Mark Reed said he does not know of any Fairfield students who have ever been killed or harmed on spring break.
Stephanie Hohler ’06 plans to go to a tropical location for her vacation. She said safety issues did not cross her mind when deciding where to go for spring break.
“There is the potential for danger no matter where you go, plus I know my friends won’t ditch me,” Hohler said.
Brook Matthews, a sophomore at Wake Forest University in North Carolina, also believes that sticking with her friends will minimize the dangers of spring break.
“I’m not afraid to go because I feel like I wouldn’t put myself in any danger. I’ll be surrounded by my friends,” Matthews said. “I do recognize that it’s kind of scary, especially after what happened to Natalee Holloway.”
There are three simple tips that can help students have a safe spring break. Never leave your drink unattended and never accept a drink from anyone other than the bartender. Most importantly, stick with and take care of your friends.
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