Students return to the hill

BOWLING GREEN Ky.-Over summer, the hills of Western Kentucky University wait for everyone’s return. That wait is over.

It’s officially the start of the 2019 fall semester at Western Kentucky University. Some students are returning after a long summer, while some are making their home on the hill for the first time.

“I mean, it’s not bad. It has plenty of space, it’s got some things to do so I mean, I like it,” Freshman Kendrick Bostick said.

It’s not just a big day for students. The faculty and staff have been patiently waiting for things to pick up.

“It’s always exciting when the students are back on campus. Campus comes alive, and it’s just that real feeling of the way it’s supposed to be, where the students are here and they’re excited, and we’re excited to have them back too,” Interim Dean of the WKU graduate school Cheryl Davis said.

Local businesses, especially those near the campus of WKU like the Hilligan’s Sports Bar are also thrilled to have the action come back to the hill.

“It’s always a lot of fun when the students are back. Since we are so close to campus, when everybody moves out for the summer, we do lose a good chunk of our business. When students are back, it’s always a lot more lively around here, as it is in anywhere in Bowling Green really,” Hilligan’s general manager Ashley Bland said.

While restaurants and coffee shops thrive when the students return, even tattoo shops are ready for more business.

“Summer is drawing to an end, students come in, and it gets us back in the swing of things. It’s a big help to our business. We try to run deals and stuff for the students that come in. We try to help them because they help us. We’re just glad the students are back,” Lindsey said.