By Brianna Vitands
Murphy News Service
The images associated with American spring break include stereotypes of excessive alcohol and promiscuity, which has been reinforced by shows like Girls Gone Wild and MTV’s Spring Break.
In reality, for many University of Minnesota students, spring break this year will not be quite as exciting.
Among a sample of 40 students at the University of Minnesota, 45 percent reported they were staying in Minnesota. Seven percent of students will visit Mexico, 5 percent Florida, and 2 percent will go abroad. Another 25 percent of students fit somewhere in the ‘other’ category, with responses ranging from traveling to southern Minnesota to visiting family in Wisconsin. The biggest factor determining spring break plans is money.
Allen Voight, a graduate student in the College of Continuing Education, said his only plan was “getting a haircut.”
Joey Ivers, a junior studying graphic design plans to work at Turtle Bread bakery in South Minneapolis over spring break. Both said money was the deciding factor in their decisions.
Although the economy has improved since the recession of 2009, many students are staying close to home.
During the recession, travel to the Bahamas during spring break was down nearly 20 percent, and flights to Cancun had decreased by 22 percent. Since some sunny destinations come with a price tag of upwards of $1,000, many college students have had to forego this luxury and pursue more affordable destinations.
The landscape of American spring break is also changing. By 1985, for example, Fort Lauderdale was visited by nearly 370,000 college students annually. By the end of the 80’s, however, stricter drinking laws were enacted, MTV Spring Break was banned from filming, and the mayor, Robert Dressler, discouraged students from coming back.
Of course, the party moved elsewhere.
In 1986, MTV filmed its first spring break special in Daytona Beach, Fla., expanding the image of illicit behaviors happening at spring break to television sets across the country. Since then, spring breakers have headed further south, to Cancun, South Padre Island, and Miami Beach.
Break Away, a nonprofit organization that offers alternative spring break options, has begun partnering with universities to offer productive spring break options that better the community. The programs typically involve direct community service for at least a week. Last year, the program had over 21,000 participants, and 60 percent of the programs happened during spring break.
Misha Estrin, a fifth year U student studying psychology, economics, and teaching, plans on visiting campuses in the Twin Cities with signs that say ‘free hugs’ and ‘free shrugs’ during his spring break.
He said his responses vary, “depending on how you approach people.” Estrin will visit the University of St. Thomas and Minneapolis Community Technical College among other local colleges, in an effort to make people smile during his time away from the classroom.
“I do it to brighten people’s day,” Estrin said. “I like to go every day that it’s very nice out.”
Students looking to stay close to home this spring break can look forward to the Walker Art Center’s 75 anniversary celebrations, events honoring the centennial anniversary of the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, as well as theatre, music, and food that will welcome the spring spirit.
Reporter Brianna Vitands studies journalism and Spanish at the University of Minnesota.