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ISSUE NUMBER 166 THE TOWN CRIER APRIL 2017

Spring into Clemson

by Saavon Smalls

With another hellacious Clemson winter almost over, spring is
quickly approaching. And with it comes a swift change in the Clemson
atmosphere. As someone whose personality isn’t synonymous with
the word ―outdoorsman,‖ even I can admit that Clemson’s true orange
greatness ironically comes out in the spring. But where are the best
places to experience this beauty?

Here are destinations to take in all of the Blue Ridge’s greatness:

 The Amphitheater: Whenever I find myself studying in between
Netflix binges and procrastination sessions, I find the Amphitheater to be my first place to go. Located in
the center of campus, stepping into the Amphitheater is almost like stepping into the heart of Clemson. With
Library Bridge directly ahead of it, it’s a great place to feel like a Tiger. In the moments you sit on the steps
and watch the other students go by, it’s as if you are realizing you’re finally home.
• Bowman Field: Also a personal favorite, the bridge between downtown and on-campus, Bowman of-
fers students a chance to have fun and let out their inner kid out in them. With the nature blooming from
within the grass, it’s a great place to walk around and feel the softness of grass under your feet. That feel-
ing, along with a game of Frisbee or corn hole, kills any belief that the photos of college students on pam-
phlets are faked.
• Botanical Gardens: You might be thinking, “of course the Botanical Gardens are going to be pretty in
the spring.‖ But the difference is in the why. For me, being in the Botanical Gardens is like entering a new
world. Unlike the previous locations, here you are mostly surrounded by nature alone, which yields a per-
spective of how small I really am compared to the rest of the world. It’s a great feeling looking at the stars at
night and pondering over what goes on around and above me.
• Doug Kingsmore Stadium: You can’t have a list of the best places in Clemson during the spring without
DKS. While some people may hate the idyllic nature of baseball, I for one enjoy it greatly among the other
sports. When the weather warms up the Tigers play at night, I can’t help but look out into the crowd as
much as I do at the actual game. Being in a sea of orange within the cool wind, mixed in with the graceful-
ness of the players on the diamond and all of Clemson around me, makes me proud of my decision to
come here.
• The Dikes: The Dikes are a pretty great place to take a walk around. Confession time: I’ve never been
here until a few weeks ago. That first time was just enough to remind me of my favorite Spring-related word
— fresh. From the dogs playing, to the cool blue look of Lake Hartwell, the Dikes are somewhere you’ll find
me this semester. And when the sun sets, it’s reflection on the lake is an experience that every member of
the Clemson community must have.

Saavon Smalls is a junior English student at Clemson. Growing up in Johnsonville, SC, a town with two red
lights and a McDonald’s, he has always desired to push for bigger things and reach for success beyond the
small farming community. With his writing skills, a switch of majors (or two), a big brain and an even bigger
ambition, Saavon seeks to find his ―something‖ in the hills, and enjoy it for next two years. And while Clem-
son is a significantly larger version of his high school (where he graduated with less than 100 other kids),
he’s ready to make a mark on the orange campus and begin his dream of one day working as an entertain-
ment journalist or city reporter.

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