Commerce, Texas is not exactly a thriving metropolis. With only 9,000 or so residents, the town lacks the majority of entertainment options that other cities posses.
Combine that with an overall sense of resentment or, at the very least, apathy, towards the university by the city of Commerce, and it’s no wonder many students decide to go home for the weekend.
That being said, the days spent in town don’t have to be completely soul-crushing. With a little ingenuity, imagination and camraderie, residents can find things to occupy their time.
“Usually, during the semester, I just hang out with my fraternity brothers,” Adrian Dawson, who graduated from A&M-Commerce this past summer with a MBA said. “When I was an undergraduate, I participated in a lot of student organizations.” When all else fails, what is left? “I do homework,” he said.
Most students mentioned either the Morris Recreation Center or the Sam Rayburn Student Center when asked what they do in Commerce. The Morris Recreation Center is open from 6 a.m. to midnight Monday through Thursday, 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday and 1 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Sunday. Admission is free to students.
The Rec Center houses two basketball courts, a swimming pool, hot tub, climbing wall, racquetball courts and workout equipment. The Rec also features unique events such as “dive-in” movies and workout classes.
“The Rec is somewhere that I can go hang out with my friends for free,” Andrew Dahir, sophomore industial engineering and mathematics major said.
The Sam Rayburn Student Center was also mentioned by multiple students. “I like to go shoot pool at the student center and play racquetball at the Rec Center,” Jay Jaska, a sophomore psychology major said. “I wasn’t able to do those kinds of things at home.”
The SRSC is open from 7 a.m. to midnight Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to midnight on Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Sunday. It contains Einstein Bros. Bagels, the cafeteria, the bookstore and the “Club.” In the Club you can play pool, video games or grab a snack to eat. The Club also features movies and live entertainment such as the Cricket City Improv shows.
The city of Commerce, however, is a different story. Outside of a few bars and coffee shops, Commerce does not contain a lot of student-oriented entertainment. “It seems to me that the city of Commerce tolerates this campus, but they don’t want to do any more than they have to,” Jaska said.
Cowhill Express Coffee Company is one of the best-looking “downtown” attractions and provides students with a place to relax and study. Bars like the Drunken Mule and the Rail offer options for students 21 and over. What other last suggestions do students have? “You can always step on crickets,” one freshman said.