Dangerous or “Cool”?

by Nalina Shapiro

The January 12 earthquake in Haiti left over 200,000 people dead, and shocked the world. With spring break around the corner, college students are again opting for an alternative destination, this time, flying south to Haiti. While this idea is nothing new, there is a problem. Travels to Haiti are being discouraged by national aid groups, and experts, saying conditions in Haiti are too dangerous for students to work in. Some experts are blaming TV networks, like mtvU, for making Haiti a “cool” destination.

The Center for International Disaster Information (CIDI) is telling inexperienced volunteers to wait a few months before traveling to Haiti because water and food are scarce and wounds are still fresh. Another group, Break Away that helps colleges organize alternative spring breaks, told its college chapters to wait until conditions are better. The group said skilled workers are needed and not college students. They believe that currently, unskilled volunteers will only take up water and food supplies that people in Haiti desperately need.  

On the other side, mtvU, the hip wing of the cable television empire is taking advantage of the “cool” potential of a spring break in Haiti. On their website, they created a page asking students planning to do relief work to send in e-mail messages with their plans and pictures of themselves. MTV has done similar things in the past, co-sponsoring spring break trips after Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Cost.

I can understand students wanting to help, but mtvU trying to make it “cool” is revolting. Millions of people were affected by the 7.0 quake and hundreds of thousands died.

According to USAToday.com, and psychology professor at Lebanon Valley College, Lou Manza, is also worried about the “cool” factor. He said that college students are at the age when they are trying to create impressions of themselves, and that could motivate people.

I find it hard to believe that students, who understand the risks and devastation in Haiti, would only go for selfish reasons. Rather, I believe students are affected by the people they see in videos, pictures and stories being broadcast. The thought of sacrificing time to help those in need is certainly appealing.

The CIDI said that in a year, they do not see why people could not go and help. Until then, college students and people who want to help, continue to donate money, clothing and anything else major aid groups need.