Violence Grips Campuses

JUAREZ STUDENTS, TEACHERS FIGHT FEAR TO ATTEND CLASSES

JUAREZ -- They live in constant fear. They feel powerless. But life must go on.

As the violence escalates around them and touches their lives,
students at the Autonomous University of Ciudad Juarez say they
remain focused on their studies despite the savage war between
ruthless drug cartels.

The unrelenting war has claimed the lives of more than 2,400 people
this year, making Juarez one of the deadliest cities in the world.

Several university students and professors have fallen victim to
sicarios, or hit men. Many women college students have simply disappeared.

More and more students witness shootings, assaults and kidnappings,
and hear about their friends and family members facing extortion.
Some even become victims and consider themselves lucky to have
survived the ordeal.

Araceli Ramirez, 19, an odontology student, considers herself
fortunate. She was recently attacked and robbed in front of her house
by a male assailant.

The man was arrested but she will never forget the feeling of hopelessness.

"You can't call for help. You can't move. You can't do anything
because they threaten your life," said Ramirez. "What you have to do
is do what they tell you and that's it. It's sad. You get a feeling
of desperation."

Ramirez, who on a recent late evening was on campus studying for
final exams, said college life has drastically changed. She can't
leave her house without thinking there is a possibility she might not
return home, even when she's going to school.

About a year ago, security on campus was tightened. Guards now block
the entrances and exits of each of the four Autonomous University of
Ciudad Juarez campuses.

Late classes also finish earlier. Instead of finishing at 10 p.m.,
professors release students at 9 p.m.

"I don't schedule late classes because I fear going home late. ... It
is not safe being out on the streets late," Ramirez said. "We don't
go out with the same security. I don't know, we can't keep living
like this. It's frustrating living in fear and not being able to do
what every other young person does in a normal city."

Ramirez's friend, Claudia de la O, an architecture student, said she
also fears running errands and being out late. But, she said, she
doesn't want to live each day being scared of doing what used to be
her normal routine.

"Supposedly, from what they tell us, the people who have been killed
or abducted are involved in tainted businesses," the 21-year-old
said. "But it's scary to think that now these victims are university
students and professors. It shouldn't be as easy for the violence to
reach the university community, but it has."

Black bows are hung at the front of several buildings at the
Autonomous University of Ciudad Juarez social sciences and
administration campus. The bows signify the university is mourning
the loss of one of their own.

Economics professor Jose Alfonso Martinez Lujan, 38, was gunned down
in his vehicle Nov. 13. He had worked for the university for 20 years.

Martinez is the third professor from the university to be killed,
officials said. Professor Gerardo Gonzalez Guerrero was killed Dec.
3, 2008, and Dr. Manuel Arroyo Galvan was killed May 29.

One of the first students to be killed was Jaime Alejandro Irigoyen
Frias on Jan. 11. Since then many other students have died. Since
Saturday, two students from the Autonomous University of Chihuahua
have been killed execution style.

Dania Luna, 22, a psychology student, said she and her friends are
tired of all the bloodshed.

"Enough is enough. We don't want to live like this anymore," she
said. "I'm scared. I think everyone is scared. But those deaths, of
the professors and students, should be our motivation to be better
people, make changes and do things better."

Although fear looms over her, Luna said she tries to go on with her
life. She said she believes most students have the same mentality.

Students, she said, still attend their classes and go out during the
weekend. But they are doing things smarter, she said.

Instead of going out to a bar or nightclub, she said students get
together at someone's home.

"Bad things are happening -- I know -- but we have to go on. We have
to think about what we can do to make things better," she said. "Such
as saying no to corruption or buying drugs. That's why Juarez is like this."