Mexico travel advisory … and lack of media coverage?
A friend of mine was complaining that the drug cartel violences just across the border weren’t getting enough media attention.
Well, here’s one less reason to be so worried:
From: Jonathan Poullard Dean of Student <adpa...@berkeley.edu>
Subject: Travel to Mexico Advisory
Date: Tue, 16 Mar 2010 13:06:14 -0700
Dear UC Berkeley Students,
In response to the recent security concerns in Mexico, the U.S.
Department of State has issued a travel warning to U.S. travelers
traveling to and living in Mexico. Please read carefully the full
advisory notice at
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/tw/tw_mexico.html
Accordingly, UC Berkeley strongly advises against travel to Mexico
during Spring Break. We encourage students to discuss your travel plans
with family, friends, and other concerned parties as appropriate.
Should you have any further questions regarding your decision to travel,
please contact the Dean of Students Office at 642-6741.
Jonathan Poullard
Assistant Vice Chancellor/Dean of Students
Even if the liberal media is burying the story, afraid what the stories of violence in Mexico (and extending to U.S. citizens) would do to the sentiments towards immigrants and immigration, it looks like at least students at Berkeley will be well informed.
Of course, it’s another question whether the information would fall on deaf ears, but, well, let him who has ears to hear hear.
Update: In the interest of full disclosure, the update email:
From: "Harry Le Grande, Vice Chancellor - Student Affairs (campuswide)"
<CALm...@berkeley.edu>
To: "Students, " <CALm...@berkeley.edu>
Subject: Travel Advisory to Mexico
Date: Thu, 18 Mar 2010 10:44:57 -0700
Dear UC Berkeley Students,
On Tuesday, March 15, 2009 you received an email from me regarding travel to and
in Mexico during Spring Break. In recent days legitimate concerns have been
expressed that our initial message seemed to suggest that travel to any part of
the country would be ill-advised. This was not my intention. We are, in fact, in
complete agreement with a recent State Department Advisory that warns only
against travel to areas of Mexico that border the United States.
I would ask that you read the full advisory at:
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/tw/tw_mexico.html
I also encourage you to discuss your travel plans with family and friends. Your
safety and well-being is an important priority for us, and we just want to be
sure that you have a great Spring Break, no matter where you go.
Should you have any further questions regarding your vacation plans, feel free
to contact the Dean of Students Office at 642-6741.
Jonathan Poullard
Assistant Vice-Chancellor for Student Affairs
and Dean of Students
Campus Life and Leadership
326 Sproul Hall
UC Berkeley
Berkeley, CA 94720-2426
ph: (510) 642-6770
fax: (510) 642-7167
poul...@berkeley.edu
I can’t see how anyone could have misunderstood the first email to mean that the entire country of Mexico is unsafe. I mean, that’s like thinking the entire Indian subcontinent is unsafe just because Kashmir is not a place a tourist would want to go to. But, well, some people don’t know coffee at McDonald’s is hot, so.