As students at the University of Pittsburgh settled back into campus life following spring break, one member of their community remained unaccounted for. Sudiksha Konanki, a 20-year-old pre-med student, disappeared over a week ago while vacationing in the Dominican Republic, leaving friends and classmates deeply concerned.
Fox News Digital spoke with several university students about the importance of safety while traveling and how Konanki’s disappearance has influenced their perspective on international trips.
Many students reflected on the unsettling reality that such incidents can happen unexpectedly. “I think it’s such a crazy concept that it could be anybody, especially considering we also had friends who were at the same resort at the same time,” said Bailey Wagenknecht, a junior marketing student. “Something that could literally happen to anybody.”
Wagenknecht and her friend Olivia Lee, a sophomore studying business, revealed that their friend group had considered an international trip but ultimately chose not to go.
“It was a conversation that we had about what kind of people were going to be going, and what we would have to do to make sure that we were going to be safe in that environment,” Wagenknecht explained.
Lee emphasized the need for heightened awareness while traveling abroad. “[Safety while traveling internationally] is in the back of your mind a bit when you’re planning these kind of trips,” she said. “I don’t think it’s something that necessarily should scare people or kind of make them feel like they can’t go on these trips with their friends, but just be more cautious.”
Robert Beckman, a first-year business student, shared how traveling with trusted companions is essential for safety. “I went to Myrtle Beach last year for my senior spring break and just being around a group of people that you’re comfortable with and have your back is always so important, especially when you’re in a place so far from home,” he said. He added that convincing his parents to allow him to travel wasn’t easy. “I’m originally from Erie [Pennsylvania], so it was kind of hard to convince my parents that I should be down there with my friends.”
David Eymer, another first-year business student, stressed the importance of never being alone while traveling. “Something that my family has always been big on, is the buddy system,” he said. “Especially if you’re going somewhere that you aren’t used to – like a spring break trip.” He added, “Always have somebody close by that you can trust. And try not to wander off by yourself when you’re in a new environment.”
Kate Wentzler, a junior studying interdisciplinary studies, spent her spring break in Spain and acknowledged that these vacations come at a stressful time in the academic year. “Just seeing that thing can happen to someone in this area, someone that people know around here is really sad and it is really tragic,” she said. “Unfortunately, that kind of thing can happen anywhere, regardless of what you do. It can happen here too.”
Despite the unsettling news about Konanki, Wentzler noted that she would still visit the Dominican Republic but stressed the importance of preparation. “It has a lot to do with individual choices and even your plans just for that one night and who you plan to spend it with,” she said. “I think it more comes down to that than something about the D.R. itself or traveling in general.”
Aubrey Coward, a first-year pre-pharmacy student, took the incident to heart and emphasized the importance of never traveling alone. “I don’t have the finances to go on a vacation like that,” she admitted. “But if I do travel during college, my parents have always taught me to go with people you know and don’t ever leave with anyone. Always travel in groups.”
Konanki, originally from Virginia, was last seen in the early hours of March 6 on a beach near the Riu República Hotel in Punta Cana, where she had been staying with friends. Extensive search efforts conducted by Dominican authorities, including aerial and underwater operations, have yet to uncover any signs of foul play.
As students continue to monitor updates on the search, the incident has heightened awareness of travel safety, reinforcing the importance of staying vigilant and making cautious decisions while abroad.
