A typical day in the Commuter Center is full of laughter. There’s one person studying in the corner, another sleeping on the couch, and a lively discussion that meanders from orca whales to artificial intelligence filling the room. Students make plans for later in the day, talk about class, support each other – and gently rib each other- through a day that looks quite a bit different than a typical Miami student.
For one, these students don’t live on campus. And most of them don’t even live in Oxford. For the most part, they live at home with their parents, though a few live on their own or with a spouse/partner.
Not living on campus has its perks – access to a car, typically, and regular interaction with the world outside the “Oxford Bubble”. Not to mention the enormous cost savings of room and board (or off-campus rent in Oxford).
But there are drawbacks, too. An earlier wake-up time is almost certainly a requirement, as commuters have to make time to drive to campus, park on the outskirts in the satellite lots, and then take a long walk or wait for the bus to arrive at their final destination. They typically don’t have the option to slug back to their bedroom for a quick catnap between classes, and they probably aren’t spending much time in the buffet dining halls.
When it comes to student org meetings, late night events, and evening lectures, they tend to be pretty selective about what they attend. “It makes it hard to go to activities and stuff that are late in the day. You have to hang around and find something to do for several hours and it can get annoying at times,” remarked one student, when asked about the challenges of commuting.
So while the commuter student experience might look different than a typical residence hall student, they find ways to make it their own. The Commuter Center, located in 2045 Armstrong, plays a huge role in creating a campus life for commuters. “The Center helps them find each other,” says Jen O’Brien, Director of Off-Campus Outreach and manager of the Center. “It’s a place they can call their own.”
“It’s like a home away from home,” said Nathan Wall, sophomore and past-president of Commuters of Miami (COM), the student organization for commuting students at Miami.
Commuters pose for a “selfie” in September 2017. Photo Credit: Bri Mariles
Commuter enthusiasm has been on the rise in the past few years. “Our numbers have exploded this year with new events and more advertising toward incoming students,” said Aisha Fichtner, junior who works in the Center. “Every chair is filled and sometimes students just sit on the floor.” Membership in Commuters of Miami has more than doubled this year as well.
The officers of the COM organization credit the increased usage of the Center and membership in the group to the first annual “Commuter Preview Day” they held with Off-Campus Outreach in August to give incoming commuters a chance to learn about buses, the Center, parking, and issues they might encounter. “The Preview Day helped make students more comfortable walking into the Center and joining the organization,” O’Brien said.
To capitalize on the enthusiastic group of students this year, COM and the Commuter Center held several more events during semester, including monthly Uptown Chow-Downs, Terror at the Drive-In, Pumpkin Painting, Hockey Games, and Locker Decorating.
The commuter students at Miami University come in from all over Southwest Ohio (and Southeast Indiana and Northern Kentucky). They have different majors, interests, and reasons for driving to campus everyday instead of living in a residence hall. But here, in the Commuter Center, they have found a home with each other.
Contributions by Aisha Fichtner and Bri Mariles
