Although many students come to Syracuse University from the farthest corners of the nation in the hopes of breaking away, sometimes far away isn’t far enough. Often after several consecutive weeks in the sterile bubble of academia, only one remedy seems potent enough to save one’s sanity – a road trip.

To avoid the pitfalls of cabin fever and college stress, many SU students will hit the road this semester in the hopes of getting away from it all. With a little cash and a few willing friends, a small itinerary can go a long way. Before loading up on munchies and piling into the parents’ minivan, however, a few precautionary steps may ensure one’s weekend remains sans havoc.

Junior Ben Halladay, a history major and native of Newport Beach, Calif., made sure he had plenty of extra drivers before bringing his vehicle back to SU this semester. Before his departure, Halladay and two other drivers toured the countryside, sometimes driving up to 16 hours a day.

‘I really tried to make it a week of absolute fun,’ he said. ‘You really get to know your friends when you’re stuck in a small space together so many hours a day.’

Having escaped his travels without any serious mishaps, Halladay attributes his success to AAA Trip Tiks, which enabled him to plan all of his hotel, food and gas arrangements beforehand.

‘I would not have been able to do it without it,’ he said.

Some of Halladay’s friends haven’t been so lucky. Last semester, a group of his pals traveled to Canadian casinos and strip clubs, where one of his friends ended up getting beaten by a prostitute with a belt, to the point where he was bleeding on his chest, he said.

Whether it’s a lower drinking age across the border, out-of-town concerts, or just sheer boredom, students are motivated by a variety of reasons to travel off campus.

Senior television, radio and film major Ben Roy has had to make several road trips with fellow teammates during ski season, much to his delight. Roy said he volunteers to drive all of the time and relishes the fact that his male friends are selective about what CDs are played during the long haul.

‘The guys have specific CDs they like – The Darkness, Journey and Guns and Roses – anything ’80s rock.’

The key to passing long commutes, Roy says, is creating simple, spur-of-the-moment rituals that keep car riders distracted and entertained. One such ritual is a game called ‘fart tennis,’ during which passengers have to answer other farts with their own until the chain is broken and the game is terminated. He also likes to stop at cheap gas stations so riders can buy novelty trinkets.

‘We have huge competitions with claw machines and keep all the winnings in the back of the car, so by the end of the year we have a crapload,’ Roy said. The most important road trip tip to remember, he says, is to make sure that passengers are ‘really, really fun.’

The recent surge in gas prices makes the prospect of highway travel sound discouraging, if not altogether self-defeating. But when it comes to planning overnight arrangements, being able to score inexpensive housing – such as hostels or small hotel rooms – could prevent putting a financial damper on one’s weekend.

Lesley Dahlk and Audra Hopewell, both senior inclusive education majors, were able to plan a weekend getaway complete with free hotel rooms due to their connection with a peer whose father is a hotel chain owner.

‘I don’t know if I would take a road trip right now, but (back then) it was worth the trouble to help us bond,’ Dahlk said. She added planning trips around holidays and long weekends is crucial for taking advantage of the entire traveling experience.

When it comes to road trips and cash, less is more. Or at least that’s what some students say about their preference for plastic over green as a step toward protecting one’s bank account.

‘I am always paranoid about losing things during the trip,’ Halladay said. ‘I try to bring as few items as possible, including cash. Visa really is ‘Everywhere you need to be.” In addition to a passport and change of clothes, he noted that he usually brings about $60 in spending cash with him for weekend trips.

Students often find a more affordable, time-saving road trip idea in local outdoor parks and historical sites, where natural environments provide an escape from urban sprawl. The Department of Recreational Services and SU Outing Club offer several programs that allow SU community members to enjoy outdoor activities not readily available on campus.

According to Scott Catucci, assistant director of outdoor education programs for Recreation Services, about 400 to 500 people will take part in the whitewater rafting trip to Black River this fall. Other trips offered by the department include apple picking, horseback riding, indoor rock climbing and skiing.

‘Our goal is to get off campus to a unique learning environment where students can experience the essence of New York,’ Catucci said. He emphasized that day trips often provide lessons of cooperation and teamwork that students later incorporate into their daily lives.

Regardless of where students go to escape Syracuse, road trips provide limitless opportunities for taking advantage of life lessons beyond the mainstream. That is, of course, as long as the amble down Interstate 81 doesn’t turn into a road to perdition. With a better grasp of travel etiquette, students may attain peace of mind as soon as the rubber hits the pavement.

‘Make sure it’s going to be something you know you’ll be into,’ said senior computer engineering major Jim Grenier. ‘Trips are worth the planning trouble if they prove their purpose.’

Published on August 31, 2005 at 12:00 pm