Acorn

Issue date: 2/8/08 Section: News

Media Credit: Charlotte Hammond Michael Chevinsky ('10) sits in the Commuter Corner in the University Center, a room which he says he never makes use of.

As residents of Drew University, students have their own rooms to escape to at any time.

But they aren't the only ones. Commuters have a room as well. Not too many commuters know about or make use of it.

"The commuter lounge is an area designated for the student who commutes to Drew," Secretary and Receptionist of Student Activities in the Office of the Dean of Student Life Semone Perez said.

"The lounge has comfortable seating and lockers to store books and/or coats. The lounge offers commuters a place to relax between classes. The lounge is also a place for commuters to get to know each other," she said.

The commuter corner is located in UC 100.

Most commuters, however, prefer to float around from place to place or stay with friends.

"Honestly, I don't know what [the commuter lounge] is for. I never see anyone in that corner," Desiree Hykes ('10) said.

"I like to be social, so I tend to follow where my friends go or hang out somewhere bigger, like the library."

Michael Chevinsky ('10) agrees.

"I do not generally use the commuter lounge, because it is generally locked and feels like a closet," he said.

"I have never seen a single commuter in there, and I much prefer the library or UC main lounge."

Some commuters do not even know what or where the commuter corner is.

"I feel secluded from students who live on campus," Jessie Greenstein ('11) said. "It is hard to meet people."

Despite being commuters, students-for the most part-try to remain active on campus.

"I was able to stay involved just because I wanted to. I made an effort to attend all meetings and complete all my homework at Drew," said Geoffrey Talis ('10), who lives on campus now, but commuted last year.

"I don't make use of the commuter corner, nor have I ever," he said.

"I never felt the need for it. I didn't feel like I missed out on anything."

Hykes agreed that commuters can stay involved on campus if they make the effort.

"I don't think I really miss much," she said. "If I know there's something going on, I can stay late and plan around it. I can be just as involved [with clubs as residents are], I just have to commute on top of it."

Chevinsky, however, thinks that commuters need more encouragement to be involved on campus.

Although he is very involved-he is the president of Commuters at Drew-he feels that he was not encouraged by anyone to take part in campus life.

"There is very little engagement with commuters in the events that go on at Drew. A lot of commuters are indifferent to the campus and just go home," he said.

The Facebook group Commuters@Drew, with a total of 45 members, describes commuters as a silent minority.

"We have more pull if we complain about something as a group than if we just complain to other commuters about an issue," the description says.

Contrary to the descriptions of some students, it refers to the commuter corner as "a beautiful, spacious lounge to hang out in between classes."

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