SPRING BREAK: ANNUAL MIGRATION OF COLLEGE STUDENTS HEADED FOR THE WILD BLUE YONDER

The annual migration has begun; college students make the trek toward sunnier climes for a week away from the books; spring break is here.

The weeklong break at Southeast Missouri State University officially began Friday.

Thousands of students from across the country will join Southeast students at popular destinations in Florida like Daytona Beach, Fort Lauderdale and Panama City. Other popular spring break locations are South Padre Island in Texas, Hilton Head in South Carolina, and Steamboat Springs, Colo.

Spring break has been a tradition for college students for decades.

Bob Beodeker, director of the University Center and campus activities, said: "At so many schools there are so few college traditions left. Spring break is one of the few traditions remaining. It's the college thing to do. I think spring break falls at a time when students need to get away."

Beodeker helped organized several university-sponsored spring break trips in the past. The university no longer sponsors a trip.

"It's one of the first times they get to go away and not be with their parents. It's like a vacation. Spring break is the one chance they have when it's acceptable not to go home," he said.

Renee Williams, a sophomore at Southeast, won a trip for two to Daytona Beach.

Williams said: "I'm expecting to have the greatest week of my life. I'm going to forget about school for a week. I not going to have a care in the world for a week."

She entered a drawing for the trip at a blood drive held on campus in the fall.

"I entered one time and certainly never thought I would win," Williams said. "When they called from the American Red Cross to tell me I had won, I didn't believe them. I kept saying, `Who is this? Is this a joke.' It wasn't a joke."

She and a sorority sister are headed to the beach for a seven-night stay at the beach. They must pay for their travel and food.

"I've never been anywhere on spring break," Williams said. "I'm planning to spend the whole time on the beach. I want to come back with a tan so everyone will be jealous."

Williams said that this week marks the start of the "big" spring break season, which lasts about four weeks. Most colleges and universities schedule spring breaks at about the same time.

"We know there will be a ton of other people there. That's what makes it fun. If we were the only college students there, it wouldn't be nearly as exciting. But there will be millions of college students."

Beodeker said spring break destinations cater to college students, offering discount accommodations.

"Prices are fairly reasonable. Students can go for a week for $100 or $200," he said.

"It's a good chance to meet other students from across the country. I think it can be a fun and good experience for students if they are careful and responsible," Beodeker said.

Universities across the country have expressed concern about the alcohol abuse that occurs during spring break.

A lot of schools have stopped sponsoring spring break trips out of concern for the alcohol use that occurs.

Beodeker said Southeast has stopped sponsoring a spring break trip also. "In some ways it had to do with the alcohol use," he said. "But really, an enormous amount of time was spent by a staff person to organize the trip. Companies were coming on campus, running trips. The university decided it was not a necessary investment."

Lana Wornat, a freshman, her sister and two other friends have planned a trip to Pensacola Beach.

"We just decided to go on spring break at the last minute. Pensacola Beach was the only beach where we could get reservations," she said.

"I personally just want to lay out all the time. I'm getting spring fever and want to be outside in the sun all the time," Wornat said. "I'm ready for summer. This is a time to get away and relax and have fun."

Tim Ruessler, a junior, is among 14 members of Theta Xi fraternity at Southeast headed to Panama City for a week of fun in the sun.

"We've been looking forward to this for the past month," Ruessler said. "It's been driving us crazy this week."

This is Ruessler's first spring break vacation. "We're looking for a good time. Sunshine in the daytime and at night....

"The fact that there will be women everywhere is definitely a plus," he said. "I think spring break is a great way to meet people.

"Everybody's getting their swim- suits ready. It's a change of pace," Ruessler said.

"I think it's nice because all my Theta Xi brothers are going. We're going to have more fun together. Different people know different places to go. And there are added benefits with a larger group.

"We plan on sitting on the beach and hitting the waves and having a frosty or two," he said. "But we like to stay in control. And with a big group we will look out for each other."

Denise Dunn, a senior at Southeast, and three other girls will drive to New Orleans and stay the week in the French Quarter.

"I've never been there. I wanted to go during Mardi Gras but my parents said no way. This is the next best thing."

She said the itinerary is sketchy. "We'll spend some time on Bourbon Street. I hear the food is really good. I'm sure we'll eat well. We'll probably also do some sightseeing.

"Last year I didn't go anywhere for spring break," Dunn said. "The year before I went to South Padre Island. Last year, I was sitting at home and everyone else was having such a good time; I was so mad. I was sick of hearing about everyone else's trip. Since this is my last year, I decided I had to go somewhere."

She said the trip two years ago to South Padre Island "was wild."

"It was nuts. It was wall to wall people. A lot of the bigger schools, like Texas A&M, were on spring break the same week.

"It was a 20-hour drive and we were gone 10 days. I was ready to come back, but it sure was a lot of fun."