The possibility of war with Iraq has incited mixed reactions among students regarding their spring break travel plans. Plummeting airfares have encouraged more students to go abroad, but increasing fears of anti-Americanism and terrorism have made some students worried to leave the country.
Student travel agencies STA Travel and Student Universe report that some customers have cancelled their plans for spring break. Most students, however, are not taking the threat of war into account for their spring break plans.
"While I am aware that there are certain threats to traveling, I feel that we [Americans] need to continue living our lives, and that includes traveling," senior Erika Robbins said. Robbins plans to travel to Montreal and Quebec with friends over break. Anecdotal evidence suggests that Robbins' attitude towards travel within the next several weeks is echoed by students across the country "Most students are choosing to travel to Europe and the Caribbean and don't feel that the possibility of war will threaten their experience," an agent for Student Universe said.
Airfares to Europe are unusually low on many different online search engines, including Expedia, STA Travel, and Student Universe.
The growing probability of war at least partly explains such low-ticket prices during what is the high season for some destinations.
Airlines may have also dropped fares because of the perceived threat of terrorism. As the United States pushes for war, many consumers expect retaliation from militant Islamic groups, and are discouraged from flying.
Freshman Thomas Singer plans to take advantage of the low airfares to Europe. "I don't understand how going to London can be cheaper than flying home to Atlanta, but I'm still ready to take advantage of such a great deal," Singer said.
Both STA Travel and Student Universe said there is still time to plan spring break trips.
Trips to the Bahamas and Mexico are the most popular option for college students, according to STA Travel. Undeterred by potential war, biology professor George Ellmore is leading a group of 15 students to the Bahamas to explore tropical ecology over spring break.
STA Travel reports that trips to Europe, especially to London and Paris, are growing in popularity.
"I traveled right after September 11," said Jessica Harris, who will travel to England and Wales. "It was a little scary, but you realize life has to go on. You are letting the enemy win if you sit in your house duct-taped in with a gas mask."
Although some Tufts students are deterred from traveling by the current instability in the world, many students agree with Harris. "I think terrible things could happen anywhere and anytime, and so it's important not to let fear overpower your life," freshman Ariana Milman said, adding that "it's just important to be cautious and as informed as possible."
Many students, including many freshmen, choose to head home over spring break, but their decisions are not usually rooted in fear of traveling.
"Being so far away from home, I liked the idea of spending a week at home and grounding myself," freshman Melissa Marver from Minnesota said.
Some students will be traveling with Tufts sports teams over spring break. The cycling team will train in California, and the track team will travel to Myrtle Beach, SC.
Other students will spend their spring break volunteering. The Leonard Carmichael Society [LCS] is sponsoring Volunteer Vacations, through which Tufts students spend a week involved in volunteering activities around the country.
Though most students' spring break plans have not been curtailed by fears of war or terrorism, those fears are not completely absent. Freshman Amaya Wilhelm expects to visit friends in New York City over the break. She had originally planned to travel to Paris, but changed her mind. "I'm not too comfortable going to a country where the majority of the people are severely anti-war and some anti-American," she said.
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