As a commuter student, I spend a lot of time on campus but rarely in comfort. Between classes, I’m not heading back to a dorm or relaxing in a quiet common area. I, like many others, make my way to the commuter lounge. Or at least, I try to.
The problem? The lounge is almost always full. Not just busy. Packed. There’s barely enough room to walk through, let alone sit, focus, or unwind. It’s loud, cramped, and uncomfortable. For many of us, it feels like an afterthought. A small space carved out to say commuters have a room, but not one that supports us.
I’m not the only one who feels this way. Fellow commuters Aiden Feldhaus and Leif Tolan both used the same words: “Cramped, loud, uncomfortable.” It’s a shared experience and one we’ve grown far too used to. When the one space that’s supposed to support you turns into another stressor, something’s not working.
The commuter lounge isn’t a good study space. It’s not a reliable place to relax. It’s not even a guaranteed place to sit. That defeats the entire purpose.
What makes it worse is that more people are commuting every year. Whether it’s because housing is expensive or students just prefer to live at home, the number of commuters is going up. But the space we’re given hasn’t changed.
This wouldn’t be such a big deal if it didn’t affect us every day. Commuters juggle long days, transportation issues, work, and family responsibilities. We don’t have dorm rooms or private lounges to crash in between classes. We depend on the commuter lounge. And right now, we can’t.
We’re not asking for luxury. Just fairness. A space that reflects how many of us there are and what we need. Somewhere to sit, eat, rest, or focus. Somewhere that actually helps, not just exists.
The university talks a lot about inclusion and student success. But inclusion means thinking about everyone, not just the students who live on campus. If the school can build new lounges, dorms, or buildings, it can build something better for commuters, too.
Right now, the message feels pretty clear: if you don’t live here, you don’t belong here for long. That needs to change. Commuter students deserve a bigger, better lounge, one that actually works and sends the message that we matter too. We’re not going anywhere, and we shouldn’t have to fight for a place to sit.
