If you’re reading this, it probably means you are back to school. The campus is empty and you are holding on to the last vestiges of what used to be a good number of friends in your corner.

However, there are a lot of things to appreciate and enjoy in Charleston this summer; the nice trees being one. It’s nice to step outside and hear the giant trees rustling amidst the warm air, even if you hate Henry David Thoreau, or Emerson, Lake and Palmer or whoever.

I’m sure you guys have been enjoying the new facade in front of Old Main as well. The giant stately gateway strewn with pristine landscape and our school logo lets everyone know we have a solid institution.

I suggest steering clear of the abandoned Hardee’s, however. There is something about an abandoned Hardee’s that I don’t like. I don’t really even dig on Hardee’s when they are in business.

Anyway, there’s plenty to do around town. You can go for a picnic at Lake Charleston, throw the Frisbee and drink beer at Fox Ridge or barbeque from noon to night outside your house. Or, take the scenic walk up to the Square and visit some of the friendly local taverns.

Fox Ridge also features campsites costing $11 per night and boat rentals which may even be free on certain days of the week.

As for your classes, take the opportunity to increase your grade point average by concentrating your efforts into the few classes you will have to take. It’s a much lighter schedule and it will be easier to achieve the almighty A.

This is my first summer here, but I can guess that it’s pretty slow. Last summer I was cruising Florida’s skyways over the gulf in my bosses jet black ’01 convertable Mercedes-Benz and hitting the hotspots around St. Petersburg…Pretty fun.

Now I’m in Charleston driving my (slightly cheesy) ’87 Toyota MR2, but I’m not going to let it get me down.

Speaking of driving, another nice thing about the Charleston area is the nice farmland and hidden country roads. You could even take the scenic route to Champaign, you know the place, with the restuarants that feature more than bar food, mexican or fast food.

The moral of the story is that there are plenty of things to do here in Charleston over the summer.