University of Pittsburgh - Owl Yearbook (Pittsburgh, PA)

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STUDENTS Ah, the life of a commuter, one we all envy, right?? Probably not. Because of Pitt's general location, many of its students live at home and commute each day to the campus. It is a choice wrought with both good and bad sides. Probably the most aggravating part of a commuter's life is the actual travelling. Many people use the bus and. to say the least, the PAT Bus System is not the best, or most reliable, especially during those lovely winter storms. And for those who drive their own cars, rush hour traffic is not the easiest to deal with. Since Pitt is located in a city, finding somewhere to park is also a huge problem. The commuter also has to carry all his books that he will have to use that day. This could prove to be a very heavy task. Once the initial hassle of getting to campus is over, a commut- everyone else's. Go to a class here, blow off one there, grab a 39-cent hamburger or two (or three or four) at McDonald's, hang out at the Student Union, do some studying at Hillman (very little) and call it a day. Then it is back home. Wait for the bus with 900 other people and hope you can find a seat. Get your transfer and wait again for your stop. A commuter is also faced with another important problem. What if there's a party, and it, oh. it ends at 3:00 a.m.? There er's day is, more or less, like aren't many buses running at 26 Introduction Studcnt Life

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studying. And now for the 1984 official list of how to spend time between classes: 1) Get something to eat (cheap, of course) 2) Read the Pitt News 3) Take a walk to Schenley or Frick Park 4) Catch some sleep on Flagstaff 5) Play a quick game of Pac-Man or pool 6) Hang out at the Student Gnion 7) Hang out at Hillman (oops, study) 8) Do homework for the next class 9) Blow off the next class 10) Try to pick up a cute girl 11) Try to get picked up by a cute guy 12) Gossip 13) Try to figure out what the Tuck Shop' really means 14) Catch a video at the Student Gnion 15) Catch a frisbee 16) Get something else to eat 17) Do all the corny errands that have piled up 18) Laundry??? 19) Watch your favorite soap opera 20) Relax Introductlon Student Life 25

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that particular time and your parents don’t want you to keep the car out that late, espe daily in Oakland. Well, sometimes they will have to make sacrifices and leave early. Commuters also have trouble being involved and informed of some of the activities on campus. If there is some activity on a night when you can't get back to campus, you have to miss it. whereas a resident can just walk to the activity. Commuters don't get to party and stay out as late at night because they have to go home to their parents. Living at home does have its advantages though. No need to worry about laundry. And home cooking sure beats cafeteria food. And all those little conveniences like enough closet space, no line for the shower, and peace and quiet when it's a normal sleeping hour. Well, the commuter has his problems but they're as much a part of Pitt as those who live on campus. Iniroduction Student Life 27