ELONThe pendulum | Wednesday, march 9, 2011 | Volume 2, ediTion 1

check it out...

3 8

6

Read about local businesses that target college students to bring in more money

What not to do on spring break trips

continued on page 4

7 Spring Break Abroad: Find out where in the world students are spending their spring breaks

Hype up your holiday at home

kristen.case

There is no single definition of the perfect spring

break. For some, it would be heading down south to

warm beaches and waves. For others, it would involve

a trip to the mountains for skiing or hiking. Regardless,

most people would agree that getting alcohol poisoning

is not on their list of things to do. Excessive drinking

is a major problem for college students, especially as

springtime and week-long vacations roll around.

Everyone has seen the commercials urging teens to

“live above the influence,” warning about the dangers

of binge drinking. It has become common knowledge

that buzzed driving is drunken driving, and most

college students laugh at how the commercials are

portrayed.

Message in a bottle:The dangers of binge drinking on spring break

PHOTO BY WILL ANDERSON

2

Set your expectations too highGo into your trip with an open mind. It's OK to anticipate fun, but if your

expectations are too high, your week will likely end in disappointment.

do’s&don’ts

Wear SunscreenLet's be real, looking like a lobster in

all of your pictures is not ideal. Neither

is the skin cancer.

Consider an unconventional spring breakInstead of hitting the beach, consider looking into alternative

opportunities. Use the vacation time as a chance to go on a service trip,

go camping or take a road trip.

Set up your summer plansIf you're headed home for break, use the time to network for internships,

interview for jobs and schedule travel plans to visit your roommates.

Dress for the weatherEven though spring break comes with implications of warmth, check the

weather while you are packing and bring a sweatshirt just in case.

DO: DON’T:

wednesday, march 9, 2011

Forget your travel readingFrom the beaches of Florida to your

couch at home, spring break is a great

chance to catch up on some non-

academic reading. Sophomore Sarah

Davenport recommends books like "My

Sister's Keeper"by Jodi Picoult or "The

Last Song" by Nicholas Sparks.

Limit your experience Just because you have a budget doesn't mean you can't have fun. Find

activities to do for free by simply Googling " free things to do in (insert

destination here)."

Tweet your whole vacation Truth be told, no one cares how many beers you chug, how tan you are or how many hotties you're hanging out with.

Photo by Will Anderson

Create a money poolIf you're traveling with friends, instead of arguing over the check each

time you go out to eat, set an amount for each person to contribute at

the beginning of the week and use that money to split expenses.

Forget to prepare ahead of timeMake sure to bring your ID, passport and health insurance card for

identification purposes. If driving, get your car inspected, tires rotated

and oil changed.

Photo from mct cAmPus

bonnie.efird

Let’s face it - broke college students can’t always

afford lush vacations to the Bahamas, Cancun or Florida

for spring break. For some, going home for break means

catching up on sleep, but after a few days, hanging around

the house can get old. So, if you need something to do,

follow these tips to make your 10 days of freedom feel like

a vacation without the big price tag.

1. Treat yourself to a spa day at home or, if you have

some extra cash, at an actual spa. Take some time for

yourself. If you’re short on cash, make your room and

bathroom feel like a luxurious spa. Dim the lights, light

candles, play calming music and treat yourself to a facial,

manicure and pedicure. Or, if you prefer, invite a good

friend over and take turns giving each other mini facials

and manicures. Recline on your bed as your nails dry and

as your mask hardens and enjoy a hot cup of herbal tea or

water with a few cucumber slices. If you’re willing to dish

out the cash, head to a local day spa for some heavy duty

pampering.

2. Spend some quality time with family and old

friends. After all, that’s what spring break is really about.

When you’re home, spend time with family by having

game nights, cooking dinner together and just catching

up. Apples to Apples and Catchphrase are fun ways to

reconnect with family. Or, if you’re not the board game

type, why not cook a meal and invite friends over to enjoy

your newfound skill? After all, for many students, spring

break is the only time you’ll have to travel home and visit

loved ones and friends before the summer. But don’t forget

to reconnect with old high school friends. A girls’ or guys’

night out should be in order, because you never know

when you’ll get to see them next.

3. Hit your local yoga or Pilates studio for a workout

and peace of mind. Many resorts offer morning yoga on

the beach or Pilates classes in the first-class, in-resort

gym. But if you’re going home, don’t despair. Who says you

can’t do yoga or Pilates at home? Look up studios in your

hometown to break a sweat, honor your body and find

peace of mind in one to two hours.

4. Get in touch with your outdoorsy side. Plan a

camping trip or a hike and a picnic. Head outdoors as the

weather warms up to fill up on Vitamin D and get some

fresh air. Planning a day to hike, fish, picnic or even camp

out is easy and typically cost-efficient. Since most parks,

nature preserves and camping areas are free, all you need

is your outdoor gear. But if nature activities are not your

thing, try taking a walk in your neighborhood or helping

out with yard work.

5. Catch up on those things at the bottom of the

to-do list, like cleaning out your car or filling out

internship applications. Although this may not sound

like the most fun spring break activity, you may be

surprised at how freeing it feels to cross these things

off your to-do list. To make these more bearable, give

yourself breaks in between tasks to keep you from

getting bored, frustrated and tired. Or, if you can, get

your work done outside on the porch or in the yard so

you can catch some rays and enjoy a change of scenery.

Looking for more ideas? Try these:

• Have a daylong movie marathon.

• Pretend you are a tourist in your own town. Visit

museums, art exhibits and tourist attractions.

• Make some money doing things like babysitting, pet

sitting, cleaning, etc.

• Catch up on some Z’s.

• Volunteer.

• Take day trips to surrounding towns.

• Catch a few inexpensive comedy shows or music per-

formances.

Take advantage of your relatives

Call up those relatives you know in Florida. Most of the time, they’ll be more than willing to accommodate you and your friends (and they’ll feed you). Staying with Grandma isn’t exactly your idea of a fun spring

break? Stay with your relatives for part of spring break, then rent a condo or hotel room for the other nights. This will cut down costs, and you won’t have to pay for a hotel for the whole time. Research nightly rates and spend the amount of nights equal to the people you have. For example, if you have four people, stay at a condo for four nights. That way, each person pays for one night and it makes figuring out the price much easier.

3wednesday, march 9, 2011

save money during spring breakjulia.sayers

You aced your midterms, you’re all packed, travel arrangements are set and you’re ready to spend a relaxing 10 days with your friends or family. And although you planned to save money all year for spring break, now that it has actually rolled around, your bank account is a pretty depressing sight. Maybe you spent the majority of your money on a spring break flight or a shopping spree for cute clothes and now having nothing to spend on vacation. Don’t worry. There are plenty of ways to save money while you’re on spring break.

Buy groceries and cook meals

The first thing you should do after settling in is go grocery shopping. Cooking dinners instead of eating out at overpriced restaurants will help to cut back on costs. Buy granola bars for

breakfast and sandwich supplies for lunch so you can take them with you to the beach. Delegate dinner duties to a different person, or group of people, each night. Guys can make tacos one night and girls can make spaghetti another night. If you do go out to eat, avoid the spots that are typically packed with tourists, as they will be more overpriced.1

Don’t buy drinks at the bar

If you’re going out during spring break to bars and clubs every night, watch drink prices. At most clubs drinks will be insanely

overpriced. According to drinkprices.com, in Miami, Fla. mixed drinks range anywhere from $3 to $7 dollars, and those are at the “cheap” bars. Beers are a little cheaper, but still pricey, ranging from $2 to $5 for a bottle. Also be wary of entrance fees. Most dance clubs have a cover charge, which is often between $10 and $20. Choose one night to go to a nice club, then look for cheaper options the other nights. A karaoke bar can be just as fun and much cheaper than a dance club.

Search for local bargains

Research things to do in the area that don’t

cost much. Look for parks and nature trails. Find out if there are any festivals going on. If you’re spending your break in a big city, you can often buy combo packages, which will give you entry to a certain amount of museums and tourist attractions for a cheaper price than paying for all of them all separately. If you’re going to Disney World, consider getting the Park Hopper ticket if you plan on going to a few different parks.

4 Use your Phoenix Card

Make sure you bring your student ID

with you. Most museums and attractions offer a student discount if you can show a valid student ID. According to lendingtree.com, restaurants, movie theaters and stores will offer spring break discounts to students. Ask the concierge at your hotel if they have any coupons or know which places are student friendly.

Fun spring break tips for students trying to find new experiences in familiar places

PHOTO COURTESY OF BACKYARDCITY.COM

While many of these commercials can be corny and overdone, the messages they send are no laughing matter.

According to a press release given to the Youngstown State University student newspaper, it was found that 97 percent of students drink during spring break. It was also found that skin cancer rates are on the rise and nearly three out of five women have unprotected sex while drinking on spring break.

“Alcohol makes terrible, terrible ideas seem absolutely brilliant,” freshman Ian Luther said. “Things that you would never actually do sober seem fun and exciting, and you do them.”

Students work so hard throughout spring semester, and many of them feel that spring break is their time to let loose and finally relax before they have to go back to their daily lives.

“It’s going to be so nice to go on a break with your friends, new or old, where you have no worries about what’s due the next day,” freshman Katie Lindholm said.

And while many students enjoy cocktails, they do not think about some of the consequences their drinking can have on themselves and others. Most people consider the common dangers, like alcohol poisoning and potential date rape or unprotected sex, but the unique experiences that can affect the rest of a person’s life are overlooked.

One of the major issues is going to a different country. While hotel bargains in Mexico may seem fabulous, many college students think that just because they leave the country, all rules are gone.

However, public drunkenness can still be ticketed, and drinking legally does not make drunken choices go away.

In many foreign countries, alcohol consumption is legal at age 18, and in some countries, marijuana laws are much less strict, if they even exist at all. Because of these leniencies, going somewhere foreign seems like the best way to live it up.

But there can still be serious legal ramifications for going abroad and drinking. Just because a travel agency offers a deal that inexplicitly promises very little legal supervision does not mean that anything goes.

Many people go abroad and drink without any real problems. Sophomore Emily Turner went on a one-day cruise with some friends to the Bahamas. Once the girls hit international waters, they were allowed to drink.

“It was all-you-can-drink on the boat, so we made friends with the bartenders and they filled up our glasses the entire time,” Turner said.

None of the girls were ever asked for IDs because they had to present their passports when they got on the ship and were given colored wristbands depending on their age.

“We had orange (wristbands) because we were 18 and could only drink once we were out of the United States,” Turner said.

With day cruises and trips involving lots of sunshine, something that might not occur to unsuspecting spring breakers is sunscreen. Drunken college students are much less likely to worry about the dangers of the sun, and they may not feel when they are getting sunburned.

Getting a little sunburnt does not seem like a big deal, but if the sunburn is bad enough, it can lead to sun poisoning. It is characterized by blistering, headaches, fever, nausea, dizziness and dehydration, and can require immediate medical attention if it is severe enough.

One week of spring break drinking can equal the amount of alcohol that person would normally consume in one year, according to a press release given to the Youngstown State University student newspaper.

In the United States, alcohol-related deaths are also at a peak during spring break. The rate of fatal car crashes that involve alcohol is twice as high among 16-20 year-olds, as they are among people

who are actually legal to drink, according to the British Medical Association.

In addition, the association said alcohol consumption interacts with conditions like stress and depression to spike the number of attempted suicides, specifically for people between the ages of 14 and 25.

4 wednesday march 9, 2011

Spring break drinking dilemmas

Editor: Sam Parker

Designers: Kristen Case, Lina Patton,

Gabriela Szewcow

Photographers: Will Anderson, Merissa Blitz,

Eva Hill, Anna Johnson

Copy Editors: Ashley Fahey, Eva Hill, Rebecca

Iannucci, Kate Riley, Edith Veremu

Contributing writers: Sarah Carideo, Kristen

Case, Sarah Dodge, Bonnie Efird, Kyra

Gemberling, Ashley Jobe, Katie O’Brien, Julia

Sayers, Katy Steele

Elon Edge staff

PHOTO BY EVA HILL

PHOTO BY ANNA JOHNSON

from page 1

5wednesday, march 9, 2011

Advice from “Mom”Making your own honor code

Read the following statistics about a

West Coast university:

Private university

Four-year institution

Percentage admitted: 64

Student-to-faculty ratio: 21:1

Percentage of students with a high

school GPA of 3.75 and higher: 65

Suburban Setting

Residential Campus

If you said, “Sounds like Elon,” you’re

right.

But what about this?

Students must “abstain from alcoholic

beverages, tobacco, tea, coffee and

substance abuse.”

Whoa, whoa, whoa - no coffee, no tea,

no drinking. Is this really college life?

But wait, there’s more.

For boys: “Men are expected to

be clean-shaven and beards are not

acceptable.”

For girls: “Dresses, skirts and shorts

must be knee-length or longer …

excessive ear piercing (more than one per

ear) and all other body piercing are not

acceptable.”

I don’t know about you, but some

college students I see have closets filled

with non-conservative clothes, faces full of

piercings and coffee cups that flow forever.

So, if they were to attend this school, it

seems they would quickly be expelled.

This is in the Honor Code at Brigham

Young University, where 30,409

undergraduate students have promised to

live by this code.

While controversy is currently swirling

around the suspension of standout

basketball player, Brandon Davies, for

violating the school’s rather conservative

honor code, I think the issue is compelling

because it reminds us all that people

constantly struggle in balancing their own

honor codes.

In high school, I might have said, “If you

stay out past your curfew, then you’ll be

grounded.” And the typical spring break

speech from me would either be the Amy

Poehler, “I’m a cool mom,” speech from

“Mean Girls” or the standard, “Don’t do

anything you wouldn’t want me to know

about” speech.

But now, in college, you are trusted

to make your own decisions, and Elon’s

Honor Code uses a broad brush to

promote abstract values of honesty,

integrity, responsibility and respect. But

it’s clear that honor codes have more gray

areas than clear-cut rules, and that’s where

you come in.

No matter what, you’re responsible for

making your own decisions, and therefore

your emotional, social and physical health

are dependent on your actions.

If you haven’t done this, I recommend

taking time while you’re walking to class,

waiting for your coffee at Acorn or coming

up with the last possible thing you can do

to put off doing your homework to think

about your personal honor code. If you

set up some ground rules, you are far less

likely to break them when you’re feeling

tested.

I’m not saying to “abstain from

alcoholic beverages, tobacco, tea and

coffee.” But if you make promises to

yourself like, “I will not talk about people

behind their backs,” or “I won’t drunken

text,” then your decisions have already

been made and you’ll be ready to handle

your next tempting situation.

And, if all else fails, you could always

blame it on me and say, “Sorry, my mom

said I can’t.”

Love,Mom

katy.steele

Don’t put spring break in a box.

Elon students who have been on

an alternative spring breaks have

stories to tell that don’t involve

barbecues or beach volleyball; they

involve serving others and changing

lives.

Nancy Luberoff, Hillel campus

director at Elon University, traveled

to Uruguay for an alternative spring

break trip in 2009. She and the

eight students on the trip came

home with plenty of stories to tell.

Students started a spontaneous

project rescuing mounds of Yiddish

books and rescuing Jewish culture.

Luberoff said it all began when she

heard about a collection of books

in Yiddish that the Hillel Uruguay

didn’t know what to do with.

When Luberoff and the Elon

students went to investigate, they

were amazed at what they found.

“This was not a collection of

books, it was an enormous room

in a basement in a building that

was filled with tens of thousands

of books, floor to ceiling,” she said.

“The room didn’t even have any

light bulbs in it.”

Each student brought back

a 50-pound carton of books

and had them shipped out from

Elon in order to get them to the

National Yiddish Book Center in

Massachusetts.

The experience meant a lot to

senior Ron Yardenay, who was on

the trip.

“We had no idea what books

we were picking up,” he said. “It

was emotional because Jewish

people have a deep sense of history

and the fact that we were able to

preserve some of that made a deep

impression on all of us.”

Yardenay also said he had many

cultural experiences while in

Uruguay that included learning a

nursery rhyme from Uruguayan

children, seeing those same

children’s reactions to a finished

greenhouse built by the volunteers

and being kissed on the cheek by

the children they had served.

“The people really made the

trip what it was,” he said. “The

community service you can really

do anywhere, but the culture and

the people made it stand out. You

can’t recreate that.”

Junior Olivia Feldman

remembers her spring break trip

last year to Argentina. The scene

that stood out to her was of a

shantytown, which she described

as “beyond rustic.” Feldman said

before working, the students were

instructed not to speak English

because many of the locals had

never had interaction with anyone

from outside of the shantytown,

and no one knew how they would

react.

Elon sophomore Jenna Strucko’s

spring break last year began with

a 12-hour drive to Mississippi in

what she said was a very small van.

Working in Bay St. Louis, in

areas that were still recovering

from Hurricane Katrina, made a big

impact on her, she said.

“The people we got to meet

and interact with were just great,”

she said. “Their attitudes were

very positive despite all that they

had been through, and that was

uplifting to all of us.”

On the same trip, junior Elise

Delmerico was also deeply touched

by the atmosphere.

“I’ll never forget our last night

as we sat on the beach where the

water first caused devastation.

Although the houses are rebuilt

and things look repaired, there are

people who wake up every day and

feel the effects of this disaster,” she

said. “Hurt continues to linger in

the area, but on that night it was

so peaceful as we reflected on our

service around a bonfire.

Not your average getaway

Elon students share stories from alternative spring break trips

Photo courtesy of ron yardenayElon students help rescue

pieces of Jewish culture in Uruguay.

6wednesday, march 9, 2011

it could be worse

Than spending your vacation at home eating ice cream, watching movies and skipping the gym.

Being lazy is a beautiful thing.

Than shamelessly fl irting with someone you have absolutely no interest in. You’re working on your communication skills.

THAN ORDERING A GRANDE, FOUR-PUMP SUGAR-FREE

CARAMEL, THREE-PUMP MOCHA, NONFAT, LITTLE WHIP, WITH RED

SPRINKLES LATTE AT STARBUCKS. IF IT WERE IMPOSSIBLE TO MAKE, IT

WOULDN’T BE AN OPTION.

Than blogging about your spring break itinerary instead of doing something important, like fi nishing your 12-page paper or studying for your economics exam.

Than wanting to switch to Verizon now that they have the iPhone. Finally.

Than passing sunglasses off as an accessory when really you’re just using them as a headband to hold up your greasy hair.

Than using spring break as an

excuse to be really wild by getting a henna tattoo to satisfy your

hunger for body art.

THAN LOUNGING IN BARNES & NOBLE ALL DAY WITH A STACK OF BOOKS YOU HAVE NO INTENTION OF BUYING.

{ {

Than coming back from Panama City as pale as you left. It’s not your fault you don’t have tanning genes. At least it wasn’t for lack of trying.

Than wanting a Zeno Hotspot, even if you don’t have bad breakouts. Who doesn’t want a machine that clears up your face within 24 hours?

ashley.jobe

It seems that new places sometimes present opportunities for lapses in judgment. When one has a desire to make every second count, it seems not enough moments are spent taking preventative measures. Whether you are going somewhere warm, exploring uncharted territory or seeking a getaway in a remote, secluded area, a surefire way to a great, memorable experience is to ensure it is a safe one. Here are some tips to keep your break safe:

1.) Don’t spend prolonged periods in the sun without proper protection.

Unfortunately, this rule is easily broken when you’re in new, exciting places with increased potential for sun exposure. Trips to states or countries with warm climates present risks to skin safety, perhaps even more so than at Elon, where the amount of cloud cover and UV light varies. There are multiple ways to protect your skin from harmful rays, and most are contingent upon the place you hope to visit. Do some research on your destination. What will the climate be like in mid-March? Pack accordingly. Even the sheerest of material can

offer solace from the sun. Limit your exposure to brief periods during the day and avoid peak hours when the sun is the highest and the temperature hottest.

2.) Don’t consume alcohol in

dangerous situations.Countless reports surface annually

around the world about spring break trips gone awry, with alcohol as a factor in what sometimes are tragic outcomes. These can be avoided when leisure activities are properly put in order. To avoid dangerous consequences, take steps to ensure that when in a new environment, you have protocols in place to make sure you are adequately prepared to drink responsibly and return home safely.

As for drinking while driving, this is a clear don’t. Whether on vacation or at Elon, drunken driving is never an option. This is not only an illegal activity, but it’s completely irresponsible. Make sure to create a buddy system with friends or family members to work out travel arrangements, and stick with those plans. The legality of consuming alcohol while underage may be disputed internationally, but make sure you understand fully what those laws are.

3.) Don’t leave valuables unattended.

Most places aren’t are safe as Elon. Put the days spent leaving your wallet and purse in cubbies while exercising at the gym behind you, at least for two weeks. One would hope that Elon’s trustworthy and hospitable atmosphere would be the same for all spring break destinations, but that’s certainly not the case. Keep all of your valuables on you at all times while traveling through airports, on trains or in taxis. Never assume those around

you are looking out for your best interest – that is your responsibility. If taking up temporary residence at a hotel, ask if a safe is available for your room, or what their policy is on lost or stolen items. Chances are, you are liable for any lost personal items on their property, so be sure to inquire about how best to protect your things while you are out and about. When you are in public areas on foot, it is best to keep expensive items close to your body, and out of the reach of anything, or anyone, they could be caught on.

What not to do while on vacation

PHOTO BY MERISSA BLITZ

7wednesday, march 9, 2011

sarah.carideo

While some plan trips to Florida and Mexico for standard, wild spring breaks, students who are studying abroad will be

backpacking, going on safaris and experiencing different cultures. These individuals have planned unique trips to make

their experiences abroad even more memorable.

Two-for-one special:

For her getaway, sophomore Stephanie Alvarez will spend the month of April backpacking around France for “16 full days of freedom.” Alvarez will begin her trip in Paris and then head down

the southwestern coast to Biarritz, before heading east to the town of Toulouse. Next on her agenda is a hike

up the southeastern coast, hitting the destinations of Marseille, Aix-en-Provence, Nice and Monaco. Her next stop will be Annecy, which is a small lake town that borders Switzerland. Her last

adventure, before heading back to Paris is Lyon, France’s second largest city.Alvarez is doing all of this on her own; she says she

has never spent more than a few hours by herself.“It will be interesting to see how in heaven’s name I am going to

deal with being by myself, with no phone, e-mail or Facebook, for 16 full days,” she says.

Alvarez says French students have a European Union issued passport, so they can travel easily throughout Europe.

“Europeans in general like to find warmer places to go to during spring break to escape the brutal winter weather,” she says. “If French students decide to stay in France, they usually go to the south where it’s warmer.”

Otherwise, many people travel to either Spain or Italy, both of which have milder climates she says. Students also travel to the Caribbean or the Dominican Republic to escape the cold.

Because France’s spring break coincides with Easter, many students enjoy relaxed, family-centered breaks, contrary to typical American spring breaks, Alvarez says.

Alvarez worked three jobs during the fall semester to save money for the trip.

“It’s exciting because it was all my doing, and I hope to see my hard work pay off,” she says.

Beautiful beaches and humid, tropical weather are daily conditions for sophomore Kara Frasca, who is studying in

Singapore this semester. During the week of March 13, she will travel with other exchange students to Bali,

Indonesia and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.Traveling is very different for students

because it only takes about one hour to get from one end of Singapore to the other, Frasca says.

If students want to travel, they need to leave the country, which is a big expense.

Frasca says she’s excited to experience the new culture and continue to broaden her horizon.

Along those lines, she says most students stay in Singapore for break or travel to see family in nearby southeast Asian countries. Frasca says they are “obviously excited to have the week off and spend time with their friends and family,” because their college experience is very different than that of the United States. Most of their time is devoted to school, and the social scene revolves around sports.

“There is no campus party scene and students do not associate their spring break with beach vacations and partying,” she says. “Most students did not have any idea what spring break in America was like. When I explained to them that most students travel in groups for a week-long party, they laughed.”

Studying in Ghana this semester, sophomore Anna McCracken has a week off before exams, and during

this time, she hopes to go on a safari ride in Benin or Burkina Faso.

Benin has a national park called Parc National de La Pendjari that is home to a variety of animals. She says it isn’t as hyped

up as the parks in east Africa, where most people go on safaris. Burkina Faso is north of

Ghana, so she is interested in traveling and visiting the capital.

Another option, McCracken says, would be the Green Turtle Lodge in Akwidaa, which is an eco-friendly resort that attracts a lot of people in their twenties.

“It’s a great place to relax and exchange travel stories on the most perfect beach I’ve ever seen,” McCracken says.

According to McCracken, Ghanians typically spend time with their families during break. She says their breaks wouldn’t be as scandalous as the American spring breaks, because the people there tend to be very religious.

“I’m just excited to explore a part of the world most Americans never dream about seeing,” she says.

In contrast to the United States, spring break in Spain is called Semana Santa, or Holy Week, and is the week

before Easter. Sophomore Tracy McBride is studying in Spain but is headed to Portugal

for break because she says Madrid is chilly during this time of year.

Her first stop is in Lisbon for a few days before taking a train to Lagos, a city in

southern Portugal. She says Lagos is known for its beautiful beaches and tourism-oriented

town. McBride will then return to Madrid for the final celebrations of Holy Week.

“I’m most excited for a combination of an American spring

break and a Spanish spring break,” she says. “Although I’m spending the first half of the break relaxing on the beach and staying in a party environment in Portugal, I’ll be glad to be back in Spain to catch some of their traditional lively celebrations of Semana Santa.”

Each town has celebrations and parades, and tourists flock to see the festivals. She says the problem with traveling throughout Spain to see them is the lack of advanced planning, and the costs of travel and lodging can be very expensive.

McBride says students are excited for spring break because it’s an opportunity to relax, but she doesn’t “feel that they associate it with debauchery like Americans do, simply because the week is considered almost sacred here.”

“

SPA

INGHANA

FRANCE

SINGAPORE

8 wednesday, march 9, 2011

kyra.gemberling

For many college students,

spring break means tanning, exercising

and shopping for spring attire. But for

local businesses, spring break serves

as a marketing opportunity to target

students and promote the season’s

most popular products and activities.

Susan Godlewski is a certified

tanning representative at Salon Bronze

on Huffman Mill Road in Burlington.

She said the start of spring is the salon’s

peak time for getting business.

The salon advertises to the public

as much as possible, especially to Elon

students, Godlewski said.

“We do our business cards with

coupons for free lotion and we hand

those out to all the sororities and they

hand them out at chapter meetings,”

Godlewski said. “We have also

advertised in Elon planners and done

coupons in those also.”

Clothing stores also receive

increased business and develop plans

for attracting customers, such as Gail’s

Consignment Shop in Greensboro.

Owner Gail Gentry said the store has

been around for 23 years and business

is always booming at the beginning of

the season.

“(Customers are) picking up

things, knowing in their mind that they

need them for the new season because

new things are hitting the floor,” Gentry

said.

Gentry said she has developed

several different methods for promoting

the store. She also attracts customers

with special discounts.

“We have mannequins out on

the sidewalk and we put (products) on

Craigslist and we have customers that

have been with us for years and they

just go and tell everybody,” she said.

“We also pass out 10 percent cards

for spring and you get 10 percent off

everything that’s not already on sale.”

The store is near the UNC

Greensboro campus, Gentry said, so

college students come to the store just

as often as business professionals.

“The college is just right down the

street and that’s where the mannequins

play the role,” Gentry said. “We have

them on the sidewalk and right near the

door, and plus I hire students and they

pass out 10 percent cards, as well.”

The new season affects people’s

appetites, too, as local businesses like

Smitty’s Homemade Ice Cream on

South Church Street in Burlington rake

in the cash. Owner Amy Nakhle said

she’s often surprised by the increase in

customers.

“If it’s below 70 degrees, people

don’t really get ice cream,” Nakhle said.

“But our business will triple in a day

when it gets warmer and it happens

that quickly. It’s kind of stunning.”

Smitty’s uses social networking

as a way of attracting customers,

Nakhle said, but the store also uses

traditional media by advertising in

local high school newspapers.

“We are on Facebook and Twitter,

so we talk about the new flavors we are

featuring during spring season. We

tweet specials as well, like ‘buy one, get

one free,’” Nakhle said.

Although ARAMARK dining

services doesn’t allow Smitty’s to

advertise on Elon’s campus, Nakhle

said, there are still ways to reach out to

the college crowd.

“We put coupons in the welcome

packages every year for students

coming on to campus that (Elon) uses to

get students to know the surrounding

areas,” she said.

Additionally, many businesses use

visual elements to attract customers,

such as banners, signs and spring-

based color schemes. Nakhle said

Smitty’s colors are orange and blue,

and the staff also travels, ice cream in

tow, to various events throughout the

state to promote their business.

Even though spring brings a huge

increase in customers, the majority of

local business owners are proud to have

customers to count on year-round.

“We have very loyal and faithful

customers and we don’t want to

disappoint them,” Nakhle said. “That’s

why we remain open throughout the

year.”

Local shops use onset of spring to attract customers

PHOTO COURTESY OF GAILSCONSIGNMENTSHOP.YOLASITE.COM

KEEPING IT LOCAL

PHOTO BY WILL ANDERSON

PHOTO BY WILL ANDERSON