Pittsburg State University - Kanza Yearbook (Pittsburg, KS)

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Dedication for an education Commuters talk about travel . What type of person would venture 800 miles a week, totalling 3200 miles a month, using 50 gallons of gas a week at 5741: a gallon, totalling S144 a month, to attend Pittsburg State University? Such a person is just one of the many dedicated PSU commuters. Needless to say, not all commuters travel 800 miles a week, yet the number who do is increasing. Coming from a variety of places, commuters have re- vealed various reasons for the mileage escalation. Those living in a proximity of 15 miles have relatively apparent reasons for liv- ing off campus. Home's easier . . . don't have to worry about meals and laundry . . . besides it's cheaper. com- mented Kingsley Walker, Frontenac freshman. In comparison, those driving from far reaching points need more substantial reasons than meals and laundry. Cam- pus Security said that most of the driv- ers come from Missouri, Oklahoma and Kansas. Such towns as Drexel, MO, Lockwood, MO, Miami, OK, Coffey- ville, KS, and Lacygne, KS are a small sampling of commuter residences. There must be a source of inspiration at both ends of the drive for a person to involve several hours per day in transit. Some have jobs they want to maintain while attending PSU. Others wish to remain within their familiar social cir- cles at home while incorporating a new world at college. And finally another justification is that rather than cope with a roommate's blaring stereo the commuter prefers to remain at home to study in peace and quiet. According to Bruce Johnson, Indepen- dence, KS commuter, Pm married and my wife teaches there. Bruce has ad- justed to the routine, as he has been making the 140-mile drive each Week- day for two years. There are sacrifices made by long dis- tance commuters, the most notable be- ing their lack of participation in cam- pus activities. Johnson explained that with his primary purpose being gra- .Q S , .. W- .T QR A Dx ug., iX5Qf',t- I - -... ,N ... as .. 'j ASQ- an ' riyaag- duate study, he doesn't worry about missing extra-curricular activities, which he participated in during his un- dergraduate years at Oklahoma State. Those coming from within a 30-mile ra- dius most often responded, as did Vicki Schmitt, Columbus freshman, that they vo .- would return to the campus rather than miss an important event. Carpooling has relieved some of the presssures on both the driver and the car - and many students find it essen- tial. Groups of four of five are common,

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with commuters sharing gas, driving and use of vehicles. The university has tried to accomodate long distance commuters by providing them with special parking privileges. When the commuter arrives after bat- tling ice storms, blizzards or torrential downpours, he is entitled to pull up alongside the union, park and hustle to class.