On Nov. 6, the university’s newest commuter lounge held its grand opening alongside the new bookstore. Leadership at the university stated they want to make commuter students feel more connected to this campus.
“For many of our commuter students their time spent on campus can feel fragmented, the daily commute, the rush between classes, and the lack of essential space together can sometimes leave students feeling disconnected from the broader campus community; today that changes,” said Ophelie Rowe-Allen, vice president of Student Affairs. Rowe-Allen led the event and spoke alongside the Center for Student Engagement, Leadership and Orientation (CSELO) during its grand opening last year.
The lounge quickly became a popular spot for commuters and residential students alike to unwind while they waited for their next class, relax after a long day and hang out with new people, with numerous students crediting the lounge with the creation of friendships and a feeling of inclusion.
“When I first came, I came by myself. Then I met people to bring to other events, I just felt more included in the university environment,” said student Lana Darwish during the reporting of the “Mold and Mingle” event, held on Nov. 19, in the commuter lounge.
However, its operating hours at the time were limited, which didn’t allow students to study or unwind whenever it felt convenient for them. This changed last Tuesday, when an email was sent out to commuting students welcoming them back to campus for the spring semester, and containing an update regarding the newest commuter lounge. The announcement informed students that the commuter lounge will now be open 24/7 during the week due to demand from commuters. This action supported vice president for enrollment and student success Greg Eichhorn’s statement at the time of the grand opening.
“Most importantly, thanks to the commuters for speaking up, keeping us on task, making sure that this happened, it’s refreshing. It’ll help us move forward,” said Eichhorn.
However, these new hours still come with limitations. “You’ll now need to tap your Student ID on the scanner located at the entrance to get in.” said graduate intern for commuter/off campus student initiatives Ibraheim Hugie. “This will help keep the space secure and reserved exclusively for commuter students.”
With the implementation of the ID scanner, commuter students are being asked to make carrying their student ID a habit, as without it they will not have access.The new 24/7 access to the lounge brings a new set of standards for students to abide by.
Ibraheim said “These guidelines will help us maintain a clean, respectful, and enjoyable environment.”
The new set of standards can be found posted in the lounge. With the new hours, more students will be able to take advantage of the commuter lounge whenever it feels convenient for them during the week, which will hopefully boost morale and performance in classes. For further updates on commuter events, you can follow CSELO on Instagram, or email ChargersCommute@newhaven.edu.