Making friends and forming a connection to campus, a challenge all commuter students face when coming to college, became a little easier with the opening of the Commuter Student Lounge earlier this quarter.
The lounge, which opened in January, is located on the mezzanine level of Bromley Hall, where the Global Leadership Center was formerly housed. It was opened by University College in partnership with Commuter and Adult Student Services.
The space is made up of two rooms, one room containing a small kitchen area with a refrigerator and microwave and another with computers, a television, couches and study space.
For many years one of our goals has been to have a space that commuters could go to that could play the same role for a student who lives on campus or has an apartment close by
so they have a place to go to between classes said Laura Chapman, assistant dean of University College. It's a place where students can leave things like lunches or books or can just come and relax.
The furnishing came at no cost - the items provided for the lounge were surplus from other parts of the university and did not need to be purchased, Chapman said.
Commuter students must register for access to the lounge. There are no specific operating hours for the lounge, but it is not intended to be an overnight facility. Around 30 students have already registered to use the facility, Chapman said.
A couple of students use the lounge regularly
said Nick Dahl, a junior studying communication studies and a former commuter student. And they have said they really like it. ... There haven't been any negative complaints.
The college plans to add lockers, a new computer and free printing in the near future. Dahl said they haven't gotten any suggestions for the space yet, but haven't finished furnishing it.
If I would have had something like this when I commuted it would have been fantastic
Dahl said. If you have a three-hour break between classes
what are you going to do for three hours? ... It's kind of like a home base for (commuter students).
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Leah Fightmaster
