Guide to the 'Boro: Residential Relief versus Commuter Chaos (Draft #2)

Alisha Donelson
Linda Bateman
College Composition I
February 5th, 2011
2nd DRAFT
Residential Relief versus Commuter Chaos

Freedom, individualism, the hope for new friends, a new beginning-the four best years of your life- the desires of a new resident on campus. Security, frugalness, normalcy and content- the thoughts of a commuter. The lives of residents and commuters through the ‘Boro are very obscure and different to one another. “How do you drive a half hour every day to class?” “How on this Earth do you deal with your roommate?” The students are separated into two different worlds- the residents versus the commuters.
The worlds of these two groups at Rowan both enrolled in the institution to gain higher knowledge. Commuters are expected to be able to come to class, office hours, stay for extra time after their already scheduled courses to finish projects. How do they arrive to classes on time? By leaving early and getting a good night’s rest. Living 45 minutes away, I wake up at six for my eight am classes, leave by 6:45 and arrive to the ‘Boro by 7:30. It’s a hectic schedule but it has to be done. Unlike residents who can go for the “roll-out-of-the-bed” technique fifteen minutes before class, brush their teeth and head out their door, commuters have to be exceptional time-managers. I interviewed my ex-roommate about the times she wakes up for classes. She stated, “I get up about twenty minutes before class starts at 9:25, I brush my hair, my teeth and just wear my pj’s to class when I don’t feel like searching for clothes.” (Jessica Lomonaco) Residential buildings are located within walking distances of every classroom, the library and the eating services, making life a breeze when it comes to waking up on time for classes and meetings. During the fall semester my roommate and I would leave ten minutes before class and still have time to spare. Residential score one, commuters- zero.
Resident’s may have won that battle, but the fight of arriving to classes is not the war. The expenses of residential life versus that of commuters’ lies between the costs of maintaining a vehicle of transportation and the total cost of the dorms for first year freshmen. Commuters must contemplate the cost of new tires, gasoline, and other ‘wear-and-tear’ on their vehicles. Residents must pay semester tuition for their placement in their resident halls, individual meal-plans, and other needs while away from home and their parents. The total cost estimated by Rowan University’s Admission’s finance office for the spring 2011 semester was $5, 079. Polling the residents of Mimosa Hall on the fourth floor, many of the candidates reluctantly indicated that if it were not for their homes being over the allotted amount of miles away from the university, they would commute as well to defer the total cost of the institution and hardships placed on themselves or their families. If one were to compare this cost to the average amount of gasoline per semester of a typical commuter at thirty dollars a week, the total cost reaches approximately four hundred and thirty dollars a semester. However, if you are a commuter, you must purchase an eighty dollar parking permit which brings your ‘ballpark figure’ to around a total of five hundred ten dollars (this of course, excludes any emergency situations in both cases). Which is more economical? Score, one all.
The two worlds of Rowan University are tied yet again, but this score doesn’t show respect to who is able to become more involved on the Rowan Campus. Getting involved on campus as a commuter maybe very intimidating, overwhelming and hard to fathom. Many clubs and student representative organizations have “hard to schedule times” if you are only on campus for two hours each day. Those living on campus at any college or university are more apt to participate in school promoted events, clubs and teams. In a Canadian study of new friendships and adjustment among 1st-year university students, in-depth questionnaires and face-to-face interviews were conducted to review students' new friendships were conducted. Many students gain new friendships, new acceptance of others and are able to develop a sense of networking skills to take with them throughout and even surpassing their college days. The results of the Canadian study indicated “a significant positive relation between quality of new friendships and adjustment to university; this association was stronger for students living in residence than for those commuting to a university, Rowan University is no different. Those who are actively able to participate in clubs often have better standing over all. This brings the score to residents, two, commuter’s one.
Although the score may be two to one, commuters are able to remain relaxed in a home environment unlike the living conditions of “college life.” Rooming situations are often tough when it comes to siblings. Sharing a room, sharing closets, sharing the television, keeping the untidiness down to a minimum so mom does ground both of you, that’s the life commuters may face. However, when you’re living in on campus housing, the roommate that you’re assigned may not always be compatible with you. Family members are easier to communicate problems with, accept them for who they are. When you are faced with situations beyond your control when you are sharing a room with someone unfamiliar and vague to you, situations tend to be more complicated. Between roommates, suite mates and those sharing your hall, ground rules have to be settled, problems mustn’t go unnoticed, conflicts must be resolved otherwise during you’re entire stay In the ‘Boro will seem like an uncomfortable eternity. Rather by staying at home where you can talk things out without the fear of receiving the “silent treatment,” commuting is your best bet. Two to two sums up the score.
Whether you would like to gain independence, create new friends, start the process of breaking away from your parents and embracing new found freedom, or remain content saving money, dealing with family pressures and having the continuance of time always on your shoulders, there are benefits and downfalls to being both a commuter and a resident in the boro of Glass.