Welcome, students

The opening of school means family vacations are over. This means more moms and dads driving to and from work, running errands and ferrying children to and from late-summer activities. It also means a return of students at Southeast Missouri State University, ending something of a summer lull in traffic, both on city streets and in local stores.

Last week, when students started moving into university dorms, there was a significant change in Cape Girardeau. Street traffic picked up. And some stores were full of students and parents making last-minute purchases that make dorm rooms livable.

This hustle-and-bustle surge occurs every year when university classes resume, but this year's level of activity seemed more pronounced. That could be partly due to the fact that Southeast has made great strides in increasing enrollment. There also seem to be more faces from foreign lands at the university this year, and these visitors are finding their way to local shops and restaurants.

All of the activity associated with college students is a reminder that Southeast is a major part of the local economy. The university contributes to our lives in so many ways in addition to providing a good education.

Welcome back, Southeast students. Have a great year.