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Welcome to the University of Arizona Safe Cats blogging site. This site is specifically designed and created to address the culture of safety and promote a safe campus community. Please provide thoughts or feedback to any issues you see on or off campus relating to the student, staff, and faculty population. This is a safe campus community and we are interested in seeing what you think.



Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Spring Break and Travel

What are your thoughts?????

Spring Break Travel Alert

Every student should be aware that Mexico in general has seen a marked increase in violence recently. The U.S. Department of State has posted a Travel Alert regarding travel in Mexico which is in effect until April 2009. (http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/pa/pa_3028.html).
The Travel Alert describes recent violence, and provides guidance and additional links concerning travel in Mexico. All students considering travel to Mexico are urged to review this information, which is available at: http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/pa/pa_3028.html. The University of Arizona Dean of Students Office encourages all students to consider traveling elsewhere for spring break.

The State Department website includes extensive guidance for U.S. citizens traveling and living in Mexico. See: http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_970.html for this information. Criminal activity in Mexico has not just increased in recent months, but also has begun to spread into popular tourist destinations. Specific guidance is also available concerning Spring Break travel in Mexico at: (http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/spring_break_mexico/spring_break_mexico_2812.html).

What are Travel Alerts?
As the name suggests, State Department travel alerts display a list of countries that the US Government considers un-safe for its citizens. From the U.S. State Department website: Travel Alerts are issued to disseminate information about short-term conditions, generally within a particular country, that pose imminent risks to the security of U.S. citizens. Natural disasters, terrorist attacks, coups, anniversaries of terrorist events, election-related demonstrations or violence, and high-profile events such as international conferences or regional sports events are examples of conditions that might generate a Travel Alert.


IF you choose to travel
If you choose to travel to Mexico for spring break, we highly encourage you to consider the following resources, tips, and suggestions to increase your safety.

Spring Break Safety Related Programs:
ü 3/1/09: Fraternity and Sorority Programs (FSP) will host the second annual Hunter White Safe Spring Break Program on March 1st in the Student Union Memorial Center Ballroom. The program will begin at 1pm and is open to the entire campus community. Mark Sterner’s presentation entitled “DUI: A Powerful Lesson” is a very poignant story about Mark’s tragic experience as an undergraduate student during his spring break.

ü 3/6/09: Associated Students of the University of Arizona, Dean of Students, and University of Arizona Police Department will host the spring break safety event on March 6 from 11-2pm on the mall.