By Anastasia Brown · Community Editor
About 3% of our student body are commuters — but on a campus where residential life is a huge part of the student experience, it can be tricky for them to make connections and feel at home on campus. That’s where the newly developing Commuter Student Association (CSA) is hoping to fill in the gaps.
The CSA is seeking “to help equip students to pursue their callings at Grove City College by fostering a Christ-centered community and enabling students to choose and enjoy an affordable off-campus living experience,” according to its constitution. Initially the brainchild of Student Life and Learning, this new organization is now headed up by two students: junior Sylvia Adams and sophomore Anjali Kalsani.
“I experienced the challenges of navigating college life, both academically and socially, as a commuter,” Adams said about why she decided to start this group. “My schedule was more draining because I had to factor in the time required to drive to and from campus every day, and I didn’t have my own space on campus where I could step back and take a break.
“I was also faced with the difficulty of finding a community as a non-residential student who was not always on campus. I wanted to help make a difference on campus that would lead to a more positive commuting experience for other students.”
During this year’s New Student Orientation, the CSA and Orientation Board (OB) worked with Student Life and Learning to develop several programs for students on the commuter orientation track. Junior Celia Pope was an executive for the Outreach Committee on OB, which works closely with commuters. Her thoughts on the commuter orientation were that “it was a good time of fellowship and connecting with the commuters on the first day.”
“It is definitely a challenge for the commuters to come onto campus and not feel the same about move-in and feel like they are not meeting as many people, but I think the orientation allows for the commuters to start seeing familiar faces of those who are in the same boat,” Pope continued.
Kalsani enjoyed the commuter orientation as an opportunity to connect with the new commuters.
“This year’s orientation was great. We collaborated with OB to help make a commuter handbook and invite commuters to join our Telegram. Sylvia and I were so grateful to be involved, because we were able to connect with so many of them as well.”
Adams is also buzzing with ideas for the CSA in the upcoming months as it becomes an official campus organization.
“We hope to find several other commuters who are also interested in this campus ministry and want to be involved in leadership,” Adams said.
“We are planning on starting this year small with weekly lunches and several special events per semester. Our biggest event will hopefully be OB week every fall, since that is one of the times when we can make the most impact in the freshmen’s lives.”
Adams also hopes the group can advocate for the unique challenges commuters face. She would love to see more spaces for commuters to use between classes, as well as an alternative to the policy that a Zerbe health form must be shown for a student to have an excused absence from class. Perhaps a telehealth option would be helpful for students with lengthy commutes.
Kalsani is passionate about seeing commuters flourish just as much as any residential student.
“I struggled with connecting during my freshman year due to being a commuter,” Kalsani said. “I wanted to ensure that commuters didn’t feel any less a part of the Grove City College community than any other student, which is a big reason why I jumped in at this opportunity.
“I hope that this association becomes the backbone of commuter life and continues to help commuters become more connected with Grove City College’s wonderful, tight-knit community.”
