I have always believed it is important for everyone to live lifeto the fullest. In order for my own life to be complete, I havealways wanted to go to a foreign country so I can help those who areless fortunate than I. Millions of people around the globe are dyingfrom AIDS because they do not receive proper education concerning thedisease and how it can be spread. Millions of children are unable toreceive the education they deserve. Thousands of communities do nothave clean drinking water. I have always thought about joining thePeace Corps in order to help those in need, and learn more about theworld we live in.

In 1961, John F. Kennedy challenged students at the University ofMichigan to serve developing nations in order to better themselvesand, more importantly, better the lives of third-world communitymembers. It was then the Peace Corps was born. For more than 40years, those involved in the Corps have been dedicated to changingthe lives of people in developing countries around the globe. Nearly170,000 people have volunteered and trained, and 139 countries havebeen served, according to www.peacecorps.gov. There was no doubt inmy mind the Corps was looking for someone like me to join theirservices. However, my research led me down another path.

The Peace Corps states safety of its volunteers is the toppriority. They make it clear that they choose communities in whichvolunteers have access to medical services and transportation in caseof emergencies.

Although it is somewhat hidden, the statistical informationprovided on the Peace Corps Web site includes numbers of those whohave been assaulted – both sexually and physically – along withnumbers of burglaries and homicides. It’s a bit scary to learn aboutthis, but it’s even more frightening that this information is onlythe surface of underlying hardships.

Currently, there are more than 7,000 volunteers, most of them intheir mid-20s, and 60 percent are female. In one specific instance inCape Verde, a series of islands and a former Portuguese colony offthe coast of West Africa, a number of fresh-out-of-college femalevolunteers were posted alone, without any permanent supervisorystaff. The island has a reputation for lots of parties andcelebrations. These women go to the events, unaware of the dangers ofdrinking in a completely different cultural location.

According to the Dayton Daily News, between 1993 and 1999,volunteers reported the highest rate of rape among the 41 AfricanPeace Corps countries – the fourth-highest worldwide.

In 2000 and 2001, Cape Verde volunteers reported the secondhighest rate of “alcohol problems” worldwide, a rate at least seventimes the average across the world. Volunteers at Cape Verde also hadthe highest rate of contracting STDs while doing work on the islandsin 2000.

Also of concern is Lariam. Lariam, the drug given to Peace Corpsvolunteers in order to prevent and treat malaria, is linked todepression. According to the Food and Drug Administration, within thepast four years, 144 users became clinically depressed, 41 hadthoughts of suicide, 12 had attempted suicide and 11 had committedsuicide. However, most volunteers are unaware of these side affects.Instead they are told that they may have “vivid dreams” and arediscouraged from switching to the alternative antibiotic doxycycline,according to Newsday Newspaper.

Currently, the annual budget for the Peace Corps is $295 million.However, in his most recent State of the Union Address, PresidentBush stated he wanted to double the number of Peace Corps volunteersby 2007. In order for this to happen, the head director of the PeaceCorps, Gaddi Vasquez, requested a budget increase of more than $60million for 2004. However, Congress’ spending fell $45 million short,according to Dayton Daily News. Vasquez has since tendered hisresignation and feels as though Bush’s goals will not be reachedbecause of lack of funds.

Personally, I don’t understand how Bush can even think to say hewants Peace Corps volunteers to double in number. Although there area number of people living in developing countries who admire thevolunteers, it seems as though most of them dislike or hateAmericans. Bush is using these volunteers as cheap advocates forAmerica, and these volunteers are unaware they are being manipulated.

Volunteers are sacrificing their own safety in order to help thosein need. Now when I think about the Peace Corps, I think more interms of “Peace Corpse.” There are volunteers missing in thecountries they were posted. Every day, volunteers fall victim tocrime in the community they have committed their time and efforts to.It is unfair they must go through so much to make a difference in theworld.

I advise you to do some research online if you are one of the manyyoung humanitarians out there. Until the Corps begins to take thesafety of their volunteers more seriously, I am making my own plansto change the world without its help.

– Consuela Headrick is a journalism sophomore.

– This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of TheDaily Aztec. Send e-mail to letters@thedailyaztec.com.Anonymous letters will not be printed – include your full name, majorand year in school.