Many commuters across the Waynesburg University campus this semester feel as if they are not a student at all. Commuter students are being considered "visitors" and are not allowed in the dorm rooms with their friends. They are missing out on the social interaction part of their college experience. Commuters across campus also feel as if nothing is being provided for them. Many commuting students sit alone in the Stover building all day or in their cars with nothing to do. 

This is not only affecting the commuter students, it affects the resident students and off-campus students as well. It is not fair to the resident students who would like to spend time with their off-campus or commuter friends to not be able to because they are not allowed in the dorms. Friends schedules do not always align and this is sometimes the only chance they can get to spend time together. The common areas can also get loud more often than not. If friends want to get together to work on school work they are unable to do so because of this rule. 

It does not make sense to call commuters visitors because we are students too. We are paying to go to school just the same. It does not make sense that we can sit at a table and be mixed into the classroom setting with the resident students, but not be allowed in the rooms. The university is not only cutting off commuter social interaction, but everyone's social interaction. Social interaction is important for college students for a variety of reasons. It reduces stress, develops good study habits and develops good social skills upon many more. Waynesburg University is supposed to be a university for the students. They are being very contradictory in their decisions at the moment and do not like being called out. If they don't want students to socially interact, but instead would like them to social distance, why even start back face-to-face classes? Why not stay with the online instruction? 

Please help the commuter students gain a voice, along with the other students who feel that this is not fair to anyone. 

Thank you on behalf of the student community.