Spring Break Balcony Deaths

Posted by Naomi Rockler-Gladen Jan 2, 2008

Spring Break travelers: here are some important Spring Break travel tips to keep in mind. Most are pretty obvious. If you're going to drink, do so with caution. Pay close attention to your belongings. Avoid Spring Break travel scams.

But here's a Spring Break problem you may not be familiar with-- students falling off hotel balconies, sometimes to their death. This is sometimes known as "balcony diving." This has become a big enough problem in Florida that climbing balconies is now illegal, punishable by fines.

Why in the world does something so pointless like this occur? Of course, alcohol is usually involved. Students sometimes get too close to the edge and fall. But what often happens is that balconies become a mode of transportation. It's late at night and someone wants to get to a party on a different floor, and the elevators are packed. So they climb the balconies to get to a different floor. Or, they climb the balconies just for fun, impaired by alcohol You don't have to be an honors student to know this isn't the smartest thing to do.

I don't like to get preachy in my blog, but for heaven's sake, students, don't climb on balconies. Do you really need to risk your life in such an utterly pointless way to have a good time? If the elevator's out, take the stairs. If you're smart enough to get into college, you're smart enough not to do something this stupid.