Break on the brain

Students are taking a wide variety of trips this upcoming spring break, from tropical getaways to department-led study trips.

Many students, including sophomore Lisa Wagner, are traveling with friends to get a break from the Bloomington weather.

“We are going on a cruise to Puerto Rico, St. Maarten and St. Kitts,” Wagner said. “I decided it was worth it because St. Maarten is somewhere that I’ve always wanted to go and never gotten the chance. I couldn’t say no.”

The costs of college can make the expenses of a tropical trip a little problematic for some students. Senior Kristin Baxter is planning to stay in Bloomington this break, unlike her friend, senior Caty Natt, who is part of a group trip.

“Eight of us are going to the Outer Banks in North Carolina,” Natt said. “We decided we needed a group trip, and it’s off season so the beach house was heavily discounted for a big group.”

Sophomore Jessie Melowsky used traveling to her advantage.

“I am traveling from Cincinnati to New Jersey, two of the most expensive airports in the country,” Melowsky said. “But my dad found that I had enough sky miles to pay for the trip.”

Senior Leslie Gubitz decided to ditch a cruise to New Orleans for a trip organized by the Helene G. Simon Hillel Center.

“I wanted to spend my time helping others, rebuilding, checking out the jazz scene and definitely get to know Bourbon Street,” Gubitz said.

Although it’s a service trip, Gubitz said she is excited to enjoy the New Orleans scene as well.

“Everyone talks about how saucy and sassy New Orleans is and I can’t wait to live it up,” Gubitz said.

Students are also participating in club sport trips. Sophomore Kye Butler is traveling to St. Augustine, Fla., with his ultimate frisbee team. The group’s size made the trip more affordable and Butler said he is excited to get away.

“It’s the first real time away from classes in the second semester,” Butler said. “You don’t have to go home, it’s warm, you have little to no supervision and it just kind of snowballs from there.”

Some students, especially underclassmen, are still interested in traveling home. Freshman Sydney Davis said she is anxious to spend time with her family at home.

“I’ve heard about people going to warm, beachy places over spring break and basically going out all day and night long,” Davis said. “Being a freshman, it sounds fun but I would just rather go home and go shopping.”

For underage students like sophomore Glen Boden, home is where the heart will stay for spring break.

“Since I’m under 21, I feel like the spring break experience becomes kind of limited,” Boden said. “I figured I’d go home and hang out with some friends and go somewhere fun my junior and senior years.”