An Ohio University administrator is urging students heading out of the country for spring break to hit up government Web sites before hitting the beach.
In an e-mail Friday addressing growing drug-related violence in Mexico, Dean of Students Ryan Lombardi urged students traveling to the country over spring break to educate themselves about potential risks.
It just seems to make sense that many students make Mexico a popular spring break destination
and we just want our students to be as safe as possible at all times. If they aren't out too late and don't get heavily intoxicated and know their whereabouts most students should be fine he added.
The e-mail encourages spring breakers to look at two links on the U.S. State Department's Web site about going abroad.
I decided not to make it this extreme alert
but provide information and let students decide for themselves
Lombardi said.
One link takes students directly to the official travel advisory issued by the State Department on Feb. 20. In the document, the department suggested that people going to Mexico only travel in daytime hours, travel by cuota - or toll - roads, and avoid places that are known for crime.
Violence has escalated in various parts of Mexico in recent months. Deaths from drug violence rose to 6,290 in 2008, doubling the 2007 figure. More than 1,000 cases have been reported in 2009 alone, according to the Associated Press.
Some of the worst violence has taken place in Ciudad Juarez, leading some to believe Texas' recent hike in drug violence originated in Mexico. Last week, Reuters reported the Mexican Army entered Ciudad Juarez, first to quell a prison riot, then to curb violence in the border city.
Jess Vest, a junior who works at Nelson Market, said she's decided against going to Mexico this year, though not directly because of drug-related violence.
We went to a border town last year for break and we saw a lot of people begging for money and things like that. I can only imagine what it would be like now
she said.
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Adam Liebendorfer
