Students stay home during spring break week

By Karlotta Richardson
The Collegian

When spring break comes around, some familiar images come to mind-- girls in bikinis and days spent on the beach. While many college students all over are looking forward to a break from school, some Fresno State students are choosing to stay close to home rather than do any wild partying.

A survey conducted in 2004 by Fresno State’s Social Norms Committee revealed Fresno State students use their spring break to relax, socialize and travel in California.

The survey said about 60 percent of students planned on traveling in California during their spring break.

The survey also said 44 percent of students plan to spend time with family or friends during their spring break. Thirty percent said they would catch up on schoolwork.

It seems while Fresno State students like to have fun, it doesn’t take a week in Cancun to accomplish it.

Many other students take time off from work. The survey said that although 74 percent of Fresno State students said they normally work, only 32 percent said they plan to work during spring break.

The survey indicates Fresno State students do not fall into the stereotypical partying image of college students.

The Fresno State Social Norms project said this survey supports the belief Fresno State students care about friends and family and are safe when they party.

While the media portrays college students throughout the country planning wild partying during their spring break, including consuming alcohol, a survey conducted in 2004 by Fresno State’s Health and Psychological Services showed most Fresno State students do not abuse alcohol.

The survey also reported 74 percent of students expect to drink no more than twice during spring break and 32 percent expect to drink no alcohol at all.

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