After several months of being shut-in because of snow and cold weather, it’s not uncommon for students to react to the pleasant ambiance by forgetting why they’re really at SIUC.

To remind anyone already suffering from spring fever, we’re at this University to get an education.

We urge students to keep this fact in mind as the temptation to put school responsibilities on the shelf grows.

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We know dropping everything on a beautiful afternoon for an impromptu barbecue with beer, frisbee and dogs can produce a wonderful feeling of freedom and contentment.

When term paper deadlines and tests are just around the corner, these actions can also result in self-loathing and fear.

Regret is not an uncommon reaction when someone realizes he or she may fail a class because of choosing to have fun when the time for goofing off simply wasn’t there.

It’s important to remember that your friend twisting your arm to run off to Giant City may only have 12 hours of 100-level general education classes and no job to worry about while your situation may be completely different.

Have fun and enjoy the outdoors in the nice weather. The natural beauty of the area is one of Southern Illinois’ most outstanding qualities. To ignore it is to miss out on something great.

Just remember why you’re really here and make sure you actually have time for goofing off before spending the day in the park.

In addition to cold weather, the end of February also marks the close of Black History Month.

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We believe those responsible for making the month a success at SIUC deserve some gratitude.

The lectures, concerts, forums and films put on by the Black Affairs Council and the Black History Month Committee made the event a reflection on black history that people associated with SIUC should be proud of having at their University.

A lecture given by the daughters of the Rev. Oliver Brown, who initiated the landmark Brown v. Board of Education suit, is a good example of the prominence of the people Black History Month organizers attracted to SIUC.

Besides speakers like the Brown daughters, Black History Month promoters brought lecturers with diverse views to the University, such as Boston University Professor Glenn Loury. His address, Individualism Before Multiculturalism, may not have been in alignment with many people’s opinions, but it presented a viewpoint that made people think and debate.

Activating people’s minds is one of the main purposes of Black History Month. Bringing speakers such as Loury to the University accomplished this.

SIUC also gained nationwide recognition during Black History Month with the national debut of Mississippi America. The program was produced by SIUC radio-television professor Judith McCray. It was the first full-length documentary produced by an Illinois university that PBS saw fit for broadcast.

All of this and more led to an impressive and effective Black History Month at SIUC.