PDA

View Full Version : Universities: Spring breaks south of border to be avoided


Regis Philbin
Feb 24th, 2009, 09:47 PM
http://www.azcentral.com/community/tempe/articles/2009/02/23/20090223springbreak0223.html

Universities: Spring breaks south of border to be avoided

by Amanda Lee Myers - Feb. 23, 2009 12:00 AM

Associated Press

Going to Mexico for spring break is practically a rite of passage for college students in Arizona, but the state's three public universities want to warn young revelers about stepped-up violence south of the border.

The University of Arizona in Tucson has issued a travel advisory urging students not to go to Mexico, and officials at Arizona State University in Tempe and Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff said they have similar plans to warn students. The schools' spring breaks fall on the second or third weeks of March.

In its notice to students, UA cited a travel alert issued by the U.S. Department of State in October warning travelers that crime rates have increased sharply in Tijuana, Juarez and Nogales - all Mexican cities that have experienced public shootouts during the daytime in shopping centers and other public places. The department warned that criminals have followed and harassed Americans driving in border areas.

Universities that warn students of violence in Mexico are providing "sage advice," said Special Agent Tom Mangan, a spokesman for the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

LesterX
Feb 24th, 2009, 09:57 PM
Thanks for the warning, Regis. I had been planning a little trip south of the border to star in Middle-Aged Girls Gone Wild, but maybe Florida should be my destination of choice instead.

pinky
Feb 25th, 2009, 08:47 AM
If you're "middle-aged" then what am I? :susp2:


By the way, do NOT answer that!

db44
Feb 25th, 2009, 12:24 PM
Damn, I was ready to swing down to Nogi and party.

DoubleEdgeSword
Feb 25th, 2009, 01:17 PM
Drug smugglers and shootouts on the streets? Except for the high-priced hotels, sounds like Miami.

James Dean
Feb 25th, 2009, 03:00 PM
It's very dangerous, many places like Tijuana are losing money because everyone is afraid to go there. People just stay in their houses.

pinky
Feb 25th, 2009, 04:31 PM
Juarez has been bad for years. My kids were supposed to go to El Paso with their high school marching band for the Sun Bowl in January of 2002. Before the trip got cancelled due to fears after 9/11, all the parents were warned to speak with the kids (girls especially) about NOT going across the border.

lions1mew
Feb 25th, 2009, 04:37 PM
I'm from El Paso, born and raised. We used to go to J-Town all the time, perfectly safe.

It's changed with the rest of the world ... economy sucks worse there is all. It makes people desperate, and the roving, heavily-armed gangs are a way to be a part of something and have food and shelter. Sad but unfortunately true.

pinky
Feb 25th, 2009, 04:44 PM
Down in the west Texas town of El Paso.... :music:

My daughter didn't believe that was really a song.

lions1mew
Feb 25th, 2009, 04:52 PM
Pfft on yer daughter LOL Marty Robbins had an incredibly unique and beautiful voice and made El Paso "cool" ... not that it wasn't cool before that of course LOL

pinky
Feb 25th, 2009, 10:03 PM
At least not until you were born there. That was, what....how many years ago?



:angel:

lions1mew
Feb 26th, 2009, 09:46 AM
Yer harsh Pinky LOL