Feds: Bad time to spring to Mexico

‘ ‘ ‘ Students might want to reconsider venturing south of the border for spring break. ‘ ‘ ‘ … ‘ ‘ ‘ Students might want to reconsider venturing south of the border for spring break. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ The U.S. Department of State issued a travel warning late last month urging tourists not to visit Mexico because of a surge in drug-related violence, which has resembled combat in some places near the border. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘We just want travelers to have as safe a trip as possible,’ said Laura Tischner, a press officer for the Department of State. She said that the violence is increasing in border cities such as Ciudad Juarez and Tijuana. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Representatives from Pitt’s study abroad office are encouraging students to heed the warning, which is effective until Aug. 20. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘It’s the very unpredictable violence that I find is just not worth it,’ said Annagene Yucas, director of the study abroad office.’ ‘It would be very unfortunate if a student was innocently involved in it simply because they happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.’ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Yucas said that under the conditions of the travel advisory, students wishing to study abroad in Mexico would not be in the country under University auspices, a policy meant to assure student protection. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘Err on the side of caution,’ said Yucas. ‘It’s better not to be there at all than to risk being an innocent bystander.’ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Pitt political science professor Scott Morgenstern said drug-related violence isn’t new to Mexico. It has been steadily increasing for the past decade. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘Students should be careful doing things students like to do ‘mdash;going out late, staying out late at night, going to night clubs and bars,’ he said. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Morgenstern explained that while many of the standard tourist locations remain safe, certain locations such as Cina Loa that tend to have a large tourist draw have witnessed violence and that students should avoid border cities. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘There hasn’t been a horrendous increase in dangers for tourists,’ said Morgenstern. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Pitt student Kevin Penner lives in Texas and went to El Paso to attend the Sun Bowl over winter break. El Paso is just across the border from Ciudad Juarez, one of the cities experiencing the heaviest violence. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Penner considered venturing across the border to Juarez with a group of friends because of the city’s close proximity to El Paso. The family he was staying with, however, thought that was a bad idea. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘They were giving us advice: ‘Whatever you do, don’t go to Juarez,” said Penner, who listened to their warning.