By: Gisselle Venable
Co-Editor
On Nov. 27, Titans On-the-Go held the grand opening for its new commuter lounge. The lounge, previously a staff lounge, is located on the third floor of the Schurz Library in room 307.
Students of all years and majors gathered in the lounge to celebrate the grand opening. Fruit, cookies, fruit punch, lemonade and other light snacks were offered.
During the open house, students mingled with both new and familiar faces, chatting among themselves or playing games.
The club was created by SGA Chief Diversity Officer Jenny Gonzalez and Dean of Library Services Susan Thomas. The goal was to have a home away from home for commuter students to relax and connect with others in a shared space.
“I noticed that while college is a dynamic and engaging environment for many, commuter students often miss out on these experiences due to the lack of a dedicated space for them,” Gonzalez noted.
Titans On-the-Go was created to cater to the large population of commuter students on campus. The lounge area provides these students with a connection to campus, ultimately establishing a sense of belonging.
The lounge, consisting of two rooms, features a variety of resources for students to utilize in their spare time. In the main room, there are multiple seating options – including couches with pillows and blankets – for students to choose from. There is also a selection of board and card games.
The second room is a kitchen. The kitchen has everything a commuter student would need. Plates, cups, coffee machines and a fridge are just a few of what is available for use.
For commuter students, spending a long time on campus could be exhausting, so air mattresses are available for those seeking to rest between classes.
“We are thinking about renting out study rooms [as nap rooms] in the future,” Gonzalez said, but assured that the concept is still in discussion and there are no promises yet.
Gonzalez also added that they plan to bring in a TV soon, and she invites commuters to bring their own things to make the lounge more comfortable.
Additionally, the club hopes to utilize the bulletin board located inside the lounge as a hub for campus information, something commuter students may not be as well-informed about. This would strengthen their connection to campus, as well as encourage engagement in campus life.
To use the lounge, students must be a registered member of Titans On-the-Go through Titan Atlas, but members are welcome to invite friends.
