Thursday, November
Students discuss how Sept. 11 terrorist attacks have impacted travel plans
THE BATTALION
Page 3
NOT to fly
By MlCALA PROESCH
THE BATTALION
Like many Americans this holiday season, Caleb Pagan will
not be boarding a plane.
Pagan, a freshman business major who attends community
college in Houston, was sitting on an airplane when the second
airplane hit the World Trade Center on Sept. 1 1. It was going
to be only his second time in a plane, as he was about to depart
from his weekend vacation in New York City and return to
Houston. He said it will be a long time before someone could
get him back up on an airplane.
“I have personally always been afraid of airplanes,” Pagan
said. “This fear has definitely increased with the possibility of
terrorism in the picture. With the amount of contraband that
has made it on to airplanes since Sept. 1 1, my faith in airline
security is extremely shaky, and I do not blame anyone who
decides to cancel their travel plans or drive instead of fly.”
Traditionally, the Christmas holidays provide students with
a break from the monotony of classes and employment.
While some students choose to work or gain credit hours dur-
m ing the break, many others take this opportunity to travel,
1 either home to see their families or away on vacation.
However, in the light of the Sept. 1 1 terrorist attacks, this
* year’s holiday travelers were given something to think
about, and many have expressed concerns and even can
celed plans.
Naomi Ramos, a travel agent at Integrated Travel in
Houston, said that overall travel is down about 25 percent
since Sept. 1 1, but many people are continuing to vacation,
choosing not to let fears of terrorism derail their plans.
“Throughout September and October, there were a lot
of people calling in to cancel winter trips,” Ramos said.
“However, since then, we have had much fewer cancella
tions and many more people are booking new vacations.”
Carissa Liew, a sophomore biology major at University
of Texas, was expecting her family to visit her in Houston
over Christmas break, yet they have canceled their plans.
“My relatives from Malaysia were planning to come
visit us over Christmas,” Liew said. “But Malaysia is a Muslim-
controlled country, and they are worried about being stopped at the
airport, so they are not coming anymore.”
While some people have decided not to travel, others have
decided to limit their traveling to inside the country because they
feel safer within U.S. borders than they would overseas.
“Many people have canceled overseas trips in favor of vacations
that are within driving distances,” Ramos said.
Other people are not letting threats of airplane safety scare
them away from flying. Amy Hays, a sophomore journalism
major, is flying to Mount Baker in Washington with her
boyfriend’s family during the break! and she is confident that the
increased airport security measures will keep her safe.
“I am not really scared about flying,” Hays said. “While I am
a little nervous, I think they have got the security pretty much
under control.”
For some students, flying on an airplane is not just a means of
travel but a mode of transportation. Lenti Smith, a sophomore
journalism and political science major, is from Tennessee, and she
must fly just to get home over the holidays.
“Flying has always been a regular part of my life,” Smith said. “I
am not scared to fly home because with the presence of the military
in the airports, I feel even safer to fly now than I did before.”
Many students who attend Texas A&M are not confronted with
Smith’s situation, however, and can drive to their homes around
Texas without worrying about the commotion in the air. This is
comforting, because while many people are choosing to fly again,
many others remain hesitant to step aboard a plane.
While the nature of holiday traveling may be slightly different this
Christmas, may people are still choosing to go on vacations and get
on with their lives. With the most popular winter travel destinations
being Hawaii, Mexico and other warm places, people are affirming
their desires to travel and enjoy themselves. Ramos confirms this,
noting that travel numbers seem to be returning to normal.
“While the airlines have cut the number of flights they have each
day, all of these flights are getting filled,” Ramos said.
Whether going home for the holidays, flying abroad to visit
family or taking an exotic vacation, students hope to find ways to
reach their destinations safely.
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MSC Current Issues Awareness Presents...
Airport
^Security
What your government
has not told you.
A panel of experts from the General Accounting Office(GAO),
the Federal Bureau oflnvestigation(FBI), along with the Assis
tant Dean of the Bush School will discuss different aspects of
homeland security including issues such as Aiport security, the
probability of future attacks, and allegations the US govern
ment ignored warnings given before 9/11/01.
www.texashalloffame.net
Texas Hall of Fame
Home of Aggieland’s only mechanical bull
29 November
thursda
College Night - the place to be on
Thursday nights!
$1.00 long necks and $1.00 U-call-its til’ 11 pm^
$3.50 pitchers and $2.50 chuggers all night!
LADIES: 18 & up FREE til 10 pm - 21 & up FREE all night
GUYS: $1.00 with College ID til 10 pm
30 November
Tin
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Thursday, Nov 29
Koldus Room 110
7- 8:30pm
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Persons with disabilites, please call (979) 845-1515
to inform us of your special needs.
Please contact Joe Williams at (979) 845-1515 for more information.
frida
Billy Joe Shaver
‘Devil Made me do It” • “Live Forever”
75^ well drinks and $1.00 long necks til’ 10 p.m.!
$3.50 pitchers and $2.50 chuggers all night!
Tickets only $6.00 at the door • Doors open 8 p.m.
coming soon
Cooder Graw
Friday, December 7
The Bellamy Brothers
Saturday, December 8
Get your Bellamy Brothers tickets now for $8 in advance at
the Hall of Fame, the Harvey Rd. Rothers, Cavenders, and
Catalina Hatters
Call 822-2222 or visit www.texashalloffame.net
for more information on all shows!
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