Established 1826 — Oldest College Newspaper West of the Alleghenies

As fall, anxiety grows, students should take advantage of natural areas

The following pieces, written by the editorial editors, reflect the majority opinion of the editorial board.

Wednesday was the first day of fall, and for many Miami students, that means flannels instead of dresses, jeans instead of shorts and that subtlest of seasonal beverages - the pumpkin spice latte.

But, as the trees of Miami begin to turn from green to autumn browns, oranges and reds, students should take advantage of an underused part of the university - its trails and natural areas.

One of the largest complaints about Miami is the bubble. For many, the drive through Butler County's outlying farmland make Miami seem like it's stuck in the middle of nowhere. But far from being stuck, the extensive network of trails and natural areas and the nearby top-notch Hueston Woods State Park make Miami an oasis.

Although there are little to no statistics available on the use of Miami's trails and natural areas, one look at the throngs of students migrating between Brick Street and The Wood's Uptown during weekend afternoons is enough to bet that they outnumber people hiking through the Bluffs or taking a run through the actual woods by a sizeable amount.

The Miami Student recently published an article reporting that since 2007, the percentage of Miami student body that have screened positive for depression and anxiety have increased from 18 to 20 percent and 10 to 20 percent, respectively. The smallness of Oxford and the stress of college can be suffocating. The seclusion and calming natural sounds of a hike on the trails or a hammock nap under the trees could be the breath of fresh air students need.

Summer has come and gone and before long the brutal bite of winter will be creeping into town. Students should take advantage of the fall weather and the natural areas before it's too late.