Are you chill?

IU President Michael McRobbie announced a plan Monday that will decrease the tuition for summer classes beginning in 2012. Indiana residents will receive a discount of 25 percent and nonresident students will receive an equivalent dollar discount.

Students taking a full course load in the summer should expect to save about $1,050.

This, along with the University finally adding a fall break in about a year, is further proof the school hates me. I’m used to it, though. My high school waited a year after my graduation to win the state basketball championship, so I can only assume that IU basketball will be dominant once I’m gone, too.

OK, I admit it. I’m jealous that, as a senior, I don’t get to take advantage of the new discount. I never thought the idea of being in school year-round would be a pleasant one, but I was wrong. I’ve taken summer courses in two of the three summers I’ve been here, and I should have taken classes in all three.

Summer classes are a much different view of college compared to the typical fall or spring semesters. If you are taking one or two courses in the summer, you realize how much easier material can be when you aren’t juggling assignments from five classes. Taking a full course load of 12 or 15 credits is also much different and far less stressful.

Part of the decrease in stress is probably due to how quiet Bloomington becomes during the summer. Campus becomes a ghost town once all the students evacuate to their parents’ basements, and I mean ghost town in a good way. Although there aren’t many themed parties to attend during the summer, campus is chiller than a bro with four older brothers.

Don’t believe me? One time I drove all the way around campus without hitting a red light or stopping for a student at a cross walk. Yeah, it was pretty awesome.

However, the chillness of the summer is also why I’m conflicted about the lower prices for classes. Summer in Bloomington is refreshing for us townies. Sure, you’ve been here before, but the town has a much different feel compared to the fall and spring. I’d compare it to when you see an IU girl who isn’t wearing leggings, a North Face and Uggs. You just feel like maybe there is hope after all.   

I’m not too worried, though. I’m sure there are a decent amount of you who think this is a ploy by the IU administration to speed up your four years of glory.

I suppose there is probably an even greater amount of students who won’t even read the email from McRobbie and who will never consider summer classes. If you’re considering taking summer classes, just answer the following question: Are you chill?

­— agreiner@indiana.edu