As many students are enjoying their summer break by hanging out with friends or even working, some students are still here on campus working or going to school.

When it comes to staying on campus, the real struggle isn’t trying to complete your classes with decent grades; it’s obtaining a job for the summer.

The Student Union Recreation Center (SURC) is so empty during summer break that if you listen carefully you can hear a pin drop, so what are people doing during the summer for work and to keep themselves occupied?

A change of pace

A couple of the off-campus hang outs that normally seem to be buzzing with students, like Campus U-Tote-Em and Brooklyn’s Pizzeria, are now filled with different members of the community.

Brooklyn’s assistant manager Chad Fuller, a senior at Central studying clinical physiology, has student employees from CWU. Though work has slowed down for the local pizza joint, they are still making plenty of business with the locals.

“A lot more youth sports tournaments and sports teams come through,” Fuller said. “[But] yeah, it definitely [slows down].”

Since it’s been a slow summer they have had to cut back on hours which Fuller says “sucks for everyone.”

Chelsey Roberts, a junior psychology major, works at Campus U-Tote-Em, a local hamburger joint right across from campus. During the school year they employ about nine students from school.

Campus U-Tote-Em always appears busy during the school year, but the week right before summer classes start staff says they have a little down time since everyone is heading back home.

However, once summer school is in session they tend to pick up business and are busy throughout the summer. When it does happen to be busy over the summer, Roberts and the staff earn more hours which in turn earns them more money.

On campus, two student workers who work at the “Wrap and Roll”—which normally sees lines out of the marketplace during the busy lunch hour in the school session—are now standing around waiting for anyone to come by.

Meleane Finau, a junior bio med major, said that she is currently taking three classes on campus and can work up to 19 hours a week while being guaranteed at least 16.

Chanessa Knight, a junior studying sociology, is not taking any classes this summer and able to work up to 40 hours a week for the university.

Competing with other students has been a challenge for some, but the real struggle seems to be keeping hours and staying busy once summer rolls around.

“Last week the most they had was 47 people come through,” Knight said. “This week we had 94.”

The fluctuating number of people coming for a bite to eat keeps Knight and Finau on their toes.

Off-season entertainment

Jim Armstrong, CEO of the Kittitas County Chamber of Commerce, said they have plenty of events going on to keep students entertained over the summer.

Some activities that are taking place this summer will be the First Friday Arts Walk and Business After Hours. The Kruisin’ Kittitas Burnouts & Car Show on August 13^th will take place on Main Street in Kittitas.

For those 4^th of July enthusiasts, they will have to go somewhere else to catch fireworks this year. Armstrong said he isn’t taking the risk of fireworks with the high fire danger in Kittitas County.

Another event happening in July is the Whiskey Dick Triathlon, said to be a big crowd pleaser and the best triathlon in the state according to Armstrong.

Participants in the triathlon will swim a mile in the Columbia River, bike 26.4 miles and end the race with an 8.8 mile run to the finish line.

For those not into swimming, running and biking, Jazz In The Valley will take place the last weekend of July. According to their website, tickets are expected to sell out quickly.

Rounding out the summer will be the Ellensburg Rodeo and the Kittitas County fair, both taking place Labor Day weekend.

The annual welcome-back for CWU students, the Bite of the Burg, will wrap up summer break in Downtown Ellensburg. During this event, students take over downtown Ellensburg to sample food from local restaurants and to receive coupons to many shopping locations. Bite of the Burg will held on Tuesday, September 20.