Lebanon Valley College - Quittapahilla Yearbook (Annville, PA)

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Commuters: Fact and Fallacy It was come to my attention that a few people on campus believe that com- muters cannot live as fulfilling a college career as residents. This is a fallacy and it is time to introduce these people to the breed of college students known as the commuters. Upon interviewing several LVC commuters, one significant reason for their decision to commute was constantly expressed. What was the reason? The fact that they can save money. Even after allowances are made for gas and other automotive expenses, LVC commuters can still save $2000 more a year in college expenses than do residents. As one senior commuter from Palmyra stated, I pay $3000 a year less than residents. However, I receive the same education. Although the financial savings are a definite advantage, several disadvan- tages do exist in the lives of the commuters. A minor yet irritating disadvan- tage is the daily drive to and from college. The drive itself, most commuters agree, is not the main irritation; the real annoyance is the wasted time spent concentrating on the road. While residents are still sleeping or eating bread- fast, most commuters are getting ready to drive to school. Veteran com- muters have tried to solve this problem of wasted time by studying in the car, but deep concentration on subject matter can make the commuter a hazard to fellow drivers. An extra annoyance is the winter weather. Armed with ice scrapers, commuters must now awaken ten minutes earlier to make it to that morning class on time. Seasoned commuters realize that the best way to avoid the morning ice is to avoid those eight o ' clock morning classes whenever possible. A related drawback is the lack of information about cancelled classes. While commuters have access to radio stations when classes are cancelled due to inclement weather, unlike resident students, they do not have access to WLVC and announcements made in the college center. When a class is cancelled for reasons other than inclement weather, residents notify each other by word of mouth. Commuters are not so lucky. As one commuter ex- claimed, There is nothing more frustrating than traveling twenty minutes on a rainy morning to find out that your class has been cancelled. Another difficulty is the times at which club meetings are scheduled. For example, most campus clubs hold their meetings in the evening, a conve- nient time for most students. However, this can be an immediate barrier for commuters. Unless one has a night class, this means another trip to the col- lege campus. In the words of one junior commuter, By eight or nine o ' clock in the evening you have just settled in. You do not feel like making a thirty to forty minute round trip to the college and back home again. This feeling is especially strong if the weather is bad. But, if you want to participate in the activity, you have to make the trip. One final barrier is the possibility of family distractions. Altough living at home usually helps, family members can also be a hinderance. Some com- muters suggested that the reason they commute is the privacy offered in their own homes, but this privacy has its own interruptions. For example one sophomore commuter complained of her four-year-old sister ' s playing hide-and-seek while she(the student)was trying to study. Or the freshman who related that his mother constantly comes into his room to see if he is studying. One senior commented, By the end of the fall semester of the sophomore year, every commuter should have his her family trained. In other words, the family should learn when to check in on the student, when to leave him alone ... 22

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Above left: Finch (Bob Schalkoff) and Frump (Kevin Biddle); Above right: Finch (Bob Schalkoff) ponders his next step; left: Smitty (Laura Pence) and Frump (Kevin Biddle) have a clash; below left: Miss Jones (Kathleen Ryan) introduces Finch to Mr. Gatch (Doug Nyce); below right: Finch and Twimble (LeRoy Whitehead) discuss their future plans in business- 21

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(Continued from p. 22) As one can easily see, commuters have many problems that resident students do not have. However, from family distrations to car problems, these disadvantages have become a way of life for the commuter. After the first three semesters, most com- muters agree that the disadvantages have dimmed in comparsion to the advantages. The most important advantage to most commuters interviewed is the financial savings. However, two other advantages stand out. The first is the increased privacy of living at home. The second is the fact that most commuters enjoy leading lives that are separated from the college campus. I ' ve lived in the dorms and you do get some privacy. But at home it is much quieter, says one resident- turned-commuter. In the dorms everyone is either going somewhere or returning, partying, or studying. Each individual student is worried about how they did on their exam or quiz. They do not always take the time to consider the fact that other people might be trying to study. At home this is different. People are still running around and causing distrac- tions at times. However, one ' s own family respects your privacy more than most people in the dorms do. After all, you can stop your little brother from playing war games. But you cannot stop the interruptions caused by your roommate and other people living on your floor. At home you have substantial control over your privacy. But at college, unless you live in the library, your privacy can sometimes disappear for weeks. Most commuters realize they have an extra bonus. If you are a resident without a car, you have probably already figured out this bonus. Com- muters, as well as residents with cars, have the opportunity to live lives that do not constantly focus on the events of the college campus. It is not that these events are negative, for many commuters do participate in them; however, except for occa- sional excursions and weekends spent at home, campus life is all the residents have. While there is nothing wrong with this, it can get boring. Commuters have the best of both worlds, for they can participate in campus events and have an easier access to outside opportunities. At the end of a long day, the commuters can go home and have a quiet meal at home, go to the movies, go shop- ping, visit friends, study in their own room, or just spend time with their families. Now that we have examined the different aspects of commuterism, the question still remains. Do com- muters lead as fulfilling college lives as do the resident students? Why don ' t you ask the students in your classes, the students in musical organizations and fraternities and sororities, or the students who par- ticipate in athletic activities? Com- muters participate in all areas of col- lege activities. The commuters I in- terviewed feel the answer is obvious. One senior commuter answered in this manner, I feel I have had as fulfilling college career as any col- lege student could have, whether they are a resident or a commuter. The important point about having a satisfying college career is that the student study hard and participate in as many activities as their grades will permit. The most important aspect of a fulfilling college life, whether you are a commuter or not, is to enjoy your studies as well as your other college activities. — Anne Eberly ■V ' gf 23