Danger of Travel in Guatemala

In The Times’ report of the rape of five female students from St. Mary’s College of Maryland (Jan. 20), Jorge Rogachevsky, one of St. Mary’s teachers who helped lead this trip, was quoted as saying that college students should be prepared to take some risks to explore the world and broaden their horizons, and that “danger is part of the human experience. We certainly have a responsibility to protect students, but education is to reach out and expand.” While also reported as deploring the attack and expressing sorrow for the victims, his comments refer to the rape of these college students as though it were some minor mishap.

Talk about insensitive! If Rogachevsky was one of the five who were forcefully raped for 90 minutes at gunpoint he would not be so casual in his remarks.

MARGO KAIROFF

Los Angeles

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We were on a trip through the Guatemala jungle country in 1990 with a 12-person group led by a Canadian. We had been warned that if we were stopped by any patrols we were to keep our eyes to the front of the van, no cameras in sight and be quiet. We came upon a tree trunk roadblock and out of the jungle darkness came a half a dozen military-garbed boys/men with rifles that seemed longer than the men were tall.

The Canadian, who was in the good graces of the country, unlike Americans, got out. There was a discussion. I never knew how much money changed hands, but the tree was removed and we went on our way.

The image of being confronted by boys with guns taller than themselves has remained with me all these years and flashed back so clearly with the news of the St. Mary’s students’ rape. The country’s representatives may be saying good words but I have a hard time believing them!

BARBARA HOWARD

San Clemente