Molly Christianson, Staff Writer
Virginia Commonwealth University simply does not have enough dorms to house the majority of its students, and because of that, many students commute. Many find off-campus housing within walking distance or at least a short drive away. However, there are still students who drive 30 minutes to an hour to get to campus.
There are numerous parking decks in and around campus that students can buy passes for and this is something VCU does well. It is easy — or at least as easy as it can be — to commute to a giant school in the middle of a city.
However, just because VCU has made it easier for commuters to get to campus does not mean commuters are comfortable once they are there.
What does VCU do to accommodate students who drive an hour from home and are then stuck on campus all day? In short, not a lot.
There is a nap pod in the University Student Commons and microwaves sprinkled throughout campus as well. These are both really great things and I appreciate them equally, but what about everything else?
What if I need to change or get ready for an event later in the day? What if I just want 20 minutes to sit alone without people constantly around me? What if I need a nap before driving home late at night? I know I phrased all of these as “what ifs,” but they have all been very real scenarios for me. The answers usually lie somewhere between bathrooms, my car or driving home when I am way too tired.
I know VCU cannot just open a shelter for students to take naps, change or decompress in, but I do feel like they could do more. Even making some existing spaces specifically available to off-campus students could make a huge difference in terms of quality of life. The library study rooms are an option, but it feels awkward to book one just to sit there or take a nap when there are people who actually need them for group projects, tutoring or other academic things.
It would be insanely nice to know that if I end up on campus longer than I intend to, I have a safe and quiet place to go. The Commons and academic buildings eventually close and that is where the existing nap pod is located. Implementing a few more pods, even bringing back the ones they took away or creating a designated quiet space in a building like the library, which remains open later, could be incredibly beneficial for commuters.
Honestly, these changes could benefit on-campus students as well. We have all heard various roommate horror stories and sometimes people just need a break from inhabiting the same room. Maybe your roommate has friends over, is studying, is on the phone or you simply just do not get along.
Having a quiet, private and safe space on campus would give students somewhere to go without having to leave campus entirely. A student-only space with 24/7 access that is included with tuition would be incredibly helpful, especially when students do not want to go to the library or spend money just to have somewhere to sit.
VCU has made getting to campus relatively commuter-friendly. Now, it needs to consider what happens after commuters get there.