More than 1 million college students nationwide flock to typical spring-break destinations each year.

Iowa students in particular put forth time, effort, and money for spring-break preparation, with this year’s hiatus approaching in around three weeks. The Campus Recreation &Wellness Center even offers a six-week “Spring Break Boot Camp” exercise class for those seeking that final push toward a “vacation bod.”

It’s just that serious.

Unfortunately, much of this preparation is thrown out the window for more than 80,000 students who find themselves being arrested over spring break each year, according to a report by Classes and Careers.

UI senior Mitch Taylor looks forward to experiencing a slew of spring-break destinations, including the popular Panama City Beach, but he does not dispute that spring break is often overhyped.

“Iowa City can be just as fun, because you know a lot of people and everything is cheap, accessible, and what not,” he said. “To be in a warm environment is something different, but Iowa City is a crazy environment in its own way.”

While the reported estimate of spring-break arrests and mishaps seem like a lot, recent research has dispelled the idea of the reckless spring-break culture as perpetuated by the media more than anything.

Case in point — the upcoming action thriller Spring Breakers, with dual kiddie stars Vanessa Hudgens (from High School Musical) and Selena Gomez (known for her Disney Channel shows).

This tidbit of cinematic artistry features 20-somethings drinking, smoking, and sex-on-the-beaching — all during the famed spring break.    

The going-with-the-crowd mentality that drives many people to do ridiculous things on spring break just as easily happens in Iowa City as on a random beach, and it’s clear that arrests happen in both school year and break settings.

So, whether you’re using spring break as an incentive to work out or exchange weekend Iowa City fun for the beach, go for it. It’s not as crazy as it seems.