Although summer is upon us, some Eastern students have decided to forgo their three months of freedom to stay on campus and take classes.

Yesterday was the first day students could receive their books from Textbook Rental, and the staff has seen a dramatic change in how many students are on campus.

Cheryl West, a staff clerk at Textbook Rental, said the summer is perhaps one of the busiest times of the year.

“We’re doing our yearly inventory and ordering books for the fall semester,” said West. “They have to be ready for issuing.”

Between on and off campus, West thinks that there might be an average of 3,000 students.

“Summer time is never as busy as fall and spring,” she said. “Books need to be exchanged and returned.”

Textbook Rental has had to cut their budget back so they don’t have as many summertime workers.

Jenny Small, a student employee of Textbook Rental, is staying to work and enjoy Charleston.

“I just have a semester, so I’m not doing anything,” said Small. “During the summer, the job market opens a lot if they continue on during the school year.”

Nancy Stone-Johnson, apartment manager for University Apartments, referred to University Apartments as being year-round housing.

“University apartments is more stable-type, where people stay year-round,” she said. “U Court people come here more for summer classes.”

Stone-Johnson said that U Court would be full this summer. They have to do regular maintenance on some apartments, but all available apartments will be rented out to the students.

Jennifer Brown can be reached at 581-7943 or at jebrown2@eiu.edu.

Students walk through the north side of Eastern Illinois University’s campus after their first day of summer school classes on May 18, 2009. (Joe McCue/The Daily Eastern News)

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