'Bagel Friday' connects with commuter students

April 21, 2005
By Mike McGivern
Staff Writer

Commuters make up a little under half of the St. Ambrose student body. Now a group of students are getting together to show their appreciation. Commuter Connection Fridays will get commuter students more involved with the university.

Students from Merredyth Beno’s New Student Seminar discussed ways in which the university could become aware of commuter needs.  Bagel Friday was one of the ideas.

Later changed to Commuter Connection Fridays, Bagel Fridays would offer information about the campus directly to commuters. Bagels and juice will be served and information about upcoming events can be picked up.

T-shirts and sweatshirts will be raffled off with a grand prize of a fifty-dollar gift certificate to the St. Ambrose bookstore.

“Activities going on at night might not be the best opportunity for commuters, but [Commuter Connection Fridays] could be the first step to getting commuters more involved in the university,” Beno said.

“But it’s a two way street. We will lend ideas and activities, but it is up to the commuters to participate.”

Sara Lee and Sodexho will supply the bagels at each gathering. The meetings will be held the first Friday of every month from 7:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. in the Goettlieb Lounge, located in the Rogalski Center.

“It should be easy to remember because spirit day is on the same day,” Beno said. Beno hopes to create a commuter connection club to come up with other activities for commuter students.

“It would be nice to have Commuter Connection Fridays every Friday instead of just once a month,” Beno said.

Beno just hopes that commuters will think it is worthwhile.

“It’s just a way to get commuters out of their cars,” Beno said. “I would like commuter students to step up and take a leadership role in this matter.”

The last Commuter Connection Friday will be on May 6, and they will start up again in September. To get involved contact Merredyth Beno in student retention.

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