Wednesday, March 3, 1999
The University Daily Kansan
Section B·Page 5
Crime, fog, cows put damper on student's Puerto Rican trip
For students on Spring Break, vacation can go from the best of times to the worst of times in the blink of an eve. Photo illustration by Roger Nomer/KANSAN
By Usman Latif
Special to the Kansan
It was supposed to be the perfect spring break getaway for Amy Ulsh, Overland Park freshman, and her friend last March.
Ulsh and her companion were seniors at Olathe East high school and planned to go Puerto Rico for spring break.
Neither Ulsh nor her friend could have predicted the disastrous turns their vacation took
Ushid did not book her vacation through a travel agency. But John Henley of Sunsplash Tours said her predicament was unusual.
"I'd never been there before, but a mutual friend of ours, Eric Barretto, was from there, and he said it would be a spectacular vacation. So we thought, 'Hev, why not?' "Ulsh said.
"They had quite the crazy vacation," he said. "I've never heard of anything like that happening before. Plane delays aren't too uncommon But other than that, the worst I've been is that the traveler became sick."
Ush said they checked into a beautiful, little hotel near the beach. They had a great view, and the sun and weather were nice.
The first night, they decided to go to a bar nearby and have a few drinks. Uls said they were just sitting at the bar when local residents pushed into the bar carrying a body.
"At first, we thought it was some kind of joke or just part of the entertainment." Ush said.
But she said it became clear that there was no ruse. The body was really a tourist who had received a severe knife slashing but was not killed.
Ush said there had been a lunatic running around the local hotels, peeking in windows and harassing tourists. She said the authorities believed he was responsible for the attack.
"We stuck around and watched the cops and medics take him away, and then we went back to our room. But you can't just forget something like that. It's the worst possible thing that could have happened." Ulsh said.
She said she was afraid to leave her hotel room the next day, even when her travel companion offered her reassurance.
Ulsh said things returned to normal, and after a couple days of lounging on the beach they rented a jeep.
The manager at their hotel told them that tourists loved seeing the old-fashioned farms, and the scenery was supposed to be just beautiful.
After a picnic beside a waterfall, Ulsh insisted on driving the lee.
"I was having fun and driving way too fast. We came around this turn and ran right into a cow. It was like watching a movie, I had no control over anything that was happening."
Ulsh said.
The good news — Ulsh and her friend were unharmed. The bad news — it was over for the cow and the jeep. They were stranded in the middle of nowhere, but they were able to flag down a fruit-laden truck.
After settling things with the car rental agency the next day, Ulsh decided to spend her remaining time in Puerto Rico relaxing on the beach.
"It may be hard to believe, but even after all we'd been through, we were starting to enjoy ourselves again." Ulsh said.
Their final day on the island, Uish and her friend packed and headed for the airport.
During the hour that they had been inside the airport waiting, a thick fog had descended on that part of the island. All flights were indefinitely delayed. Ulsh said no one told them about the fog until after they had already checked in and passed through customs and airport security.
"They told us that if we left, we would lose our seats on the plane." Ulsh said.
After 16 hours in an airplane lounge and the worst food Ulsh said she had ever had, they were allowed to board the plane and head home.
When they arrived at the airport in Miami, they were required to go through customs. Customs officials, along with beagles, were circulating among the passengers as they picked up their luggage. The beagles detected something in Ulsh's companion's luggage.
Ninety minutes later, customs officials discovered a stash of fruit in the luggage.
"That's the point where I suddenly realized I was traveling with a nut case," Ulsh said. "It was just the most ridiculous thing I had ever seen."
After customs confiscated the fruit, they were allowed to make a mad dash for their connecting flight.
Fall break would relieve students weary of classes
By Joe McPeek Special to the Kansan
Then reality sets in: spring break does not come until second semester. And for students just beginning a new school year in August, ahead lies the longest stretch of break-free classes: 56 straight class days.
Hearing these names, college students eyes begin to shine, and they dream about the possibilities offered by spring break.
Padre, Daytona Beach, Cancun.
— Edited by Melody Ard
The proposed fall break is designed to give students an opportunity to take time off from classes and relax.
"It's good to split up the time frame. It gets pretty monotonous going to classes for all of those weeks without a break," ScottDCoursey, Belton junior said.
The break would offer two days of vacation in mid-October, giving students a break before winter vacation.
"It'll give freshmen a little extra time to get acclimated to the whole University. It'll also be interesting to see if the University offers some kind of an 'alternative' fall break, like they do with spring break," he said.
Carol Holstead, associate professor of journalism and calendar committee member said that because the break would only be two days, it would not be enough time to make big plans.
The proposed break is not scheduled to take effect until 2011, but Holstead said that the committee would try to move it up to the fall 2000 semester.
"It sounds like a wonderful idea, but I don't know how I'd spend it," said Kelly Sweeney, Parsons sophomore. "It would depend on how the teachers treat the break and if they assign work as they do with Thanksgiving break. That would be the difference between relaxing and studying on the time off."
DeCoursey also mentioned that some people might skip the rest of the week of classes.
"I'm sure that would have to be a concern, but that's the same with any extended weekend." he said.
The break proposal is awaiting approval from Provost David Shulenburger and Chancellor Robert Hemenway. The University Council approved the break on Feb. 11.
— Edited by Darrin Peschka
SUA no longer will be sponsor of trips during spring vacation
By Tiffany Seeman Special to the Kanran
Special to the Kansan
Thinking of heading off for some fun in the sun this spring break? Well, you won't be going anywhere through Student Union Activities.
In previous years, SUA has sponsored student spring break trips to popular beaches such as Panama City Beach or Daytona Beach. Fla. SUA organized trips that included transportation and hotel rooms for students at affordable rates. Last year, students were able to go by bus, including hotel accommodations. for $300.
"Our trip last year was to a great location, and it was a good price," said Ashley Maurin, Kansas City, Kan., sophomore, who went to Panama City Beach.
a spring break trip.
Howard Lubliner, SUA recreation coordinator, said that it was a concern for SUA to sponsor activities that possibly could put students in danger.
"SUA and the Union Corporation Board did not want to sponsor events that are pure binge drinking trips," he said.
But, this year, SUA is not sponsoring
Lubliner said because there were so many advertisements for spring break trips around campus, there was not a need for another trip through SUA.
Lubliner also said that trips were not canceled because SUA was losing money.
Jeff LaCroix, SUA vice president for University relations, said that the main concern was that the spring break trips did not provide a unique opportunity for students, one of SUA's goals.