I was a commuter student during my first year at NSU, so I understand the struggles of waking up at the crack of dawn and catching two crowded buses to get to school on time. After my morning classes, I had a break until 6 p.m, when I had my final class for the day. So, in that time, I would find a comfy chair on the fourth floor of the library and catch up on the sleep I lost.
Now, imagine President George Hanbury giving the Board of Trustees a tour of the library; students fast asleep in cubicles and chairs do not make the university look good. Also, someone taking a walk through the main parking garage would see many students having lunch in their cars or sleeping between classes. It is evident that the commuters need a space on campus to call their own, a place where they can hang out and relax. That is why I am putting my full support behind the petition for a Commuter Student Lounge.
The Commuter Student Organization (CSO) and the Undergraduate Student Government Association (SGA) are proposing the creation of a space just for commuters to hang out, relax and get some rest. The space would include lockers, a fridge and sleeping pods for commuters to make their NSU experience more convenient. Best of all, this lounge will allow commuter students to meet other commuters. The proposed lounge will also require a SharkCard for access, which will allow for more security and ensure that only NSU students hang out in the lounge.
Some students suggest that commuters should go to the Flight Deck to relax between classes. But the Flight Deck is closed as it undergoes construction, and when it reopens, hopefully in January, it will be open to the entire NSU community. That area will definitely not be conducive to the needs of commuter students. The new Flight Deck is slated to have a game room and a bar, and this won’t allow students to sleep and relax between classes because it will be loud. Besides, students sleeping in a restaurant is not good for business.
If you are like me, you probably thought that the Mako Lounge on the first floor of the Alvin Sherman Library, across from the table where we borrow laptops, was the Commuter Student Lounge. But sadly, this area does not serve the purpose the CSO has in mind. The library not only serves the NSU community, but the public as well.
The best location for the proposed lounge is the Don Taft University Center. Many students pass through the UC daily to eat and meet with friends. Also, a lot of campus events are held in the UC, such as Mr. Fintastic and Flight Deck Follies. It is through these connections that we develop our Shark Pride and our sense of identity — Shark identity.
Therefore, I agree with CSO; the best space to put the lounge is where Campus Card Services is currently located. Because it is an administrative service, our friends in the card office can be moved to the Horvitz Administration Building. It would also be closer to the One Stop Shop, which also provides student services.
Commuter students need a place on campus where they can develop their Shark identity and the best way to do this is to get more involved on campus. Involvement in organizations helps in the retention rate of any university, and since commuters make up 70 percent of our student population, it is imperative that we encourage their involvement to enhance individuals’ college experiences and NSU.
