The Commuter Connection is attempting to encourage commuter students to form their own social circles on campus by creating a place for them to assemble. The social gathering, held every Tuesday and Wednesday at 11 a.m., is intended to allow students who would otherwise eat or study alone to come and meet other students at the same time. Twice a week, commuter students are invited to meet in Coffman Union, alternating between room 306 and the basement TV room, during their lunch hour.
Students can bring food or do homework during the one-hour congregation.
The students hang out, talk and sometimes play board games, said frequent attendee Geoffrey Benson. Knowing many commuter students spend their time between classes at Coffman, Whyte and Chad Pahl, also a commuter assistant, organized the event to take place there. Whyte and Pahl are also on hand at that time to answer students' commuting questions. The Commuter Connection was formed in July and began its first focused outreach to students during fall orientation. Through fall quarter, they targeted freshmen who were not able to live in residence halls on campus, according to Whyte.