Taylor Bembery
Associate Editor
Non-traditional students and students who live off campus were recognized with various activities from April 7-11 during Commuter Student Appreciation Week.
The Commuter Student program began during the 2013-2014 academic school year in an effort to increase campus involvement among these students. Approximately 5000 students attending JSU are commuters, including graduate students.
Thaddeus Wright, a senior English major from Chicago, Ill., is the Student Government Association Director of Commuter Students within the presidential cabinet. Wright is carrying on the legacy of what was started last year.
“Although we have students that stay on campus, the most important thing is that we have students that stay off campus that commute to school every day. We wanted to appreciate them by giving them a week dedicated to them. This is something that was actually in place before I was appointed into this position. We felt that commuter students were not appreciated,” said Wright.
Wright added: “Allowing the students to come up here to not only eat but to fellowship and have fun. It makes me feel a lot better knowing someone can have a full stomach going to class,” said Wright.
Calissa Huell, a senior English education major from Jackson, Miss., appreciates the commuter breakfast and commuter activities because it shows an appreciation for students that travel from different counties.
“I’ve participated in the commuter breakfast. I appreciate the flyers that they put on social media because I really didn’t even know about the free breakfast until I saw it on Instagram. Commuter students pay their tuition just like the resident students. Sometimes it seems like we are pushed aside because there are only activities for students that stay on campus but when they are offering the commuter activities it shows we are appreciated,” said Huell.
Gilda Robinson, a coordinator of student organizations and special initiatives at JSU, has worked diligently to keep the program progressing.
“We are trying to engage our commuter students in what’s going. Typically our commuter students have other things going on such as families and careers. A lot of times they just come to campus for class and then they leave but we wanted to think of some things to make them a part of the campus as much as our residential students,” said Robinson.
During the week, students will be provided breakfast, lunch, and snack breaks. They will also meet and greet with candidates for the SGA elections. Representatives from departments on campus will also be on hand to share information about what their department does and the services they offer.
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