Many young people in their 20s experience back pain like they are in their 50s. That is what it feels like when you are scrunched up in your car seat, trying to take a nap before your next class starts. An unpopular opinion: this uncomfortable situation happens at Eastern Mennonite University’s parking lot as well. As a commuter student here at EMU, I can confirm this. If you don’t know about this, then you must not be hanging out at the parking lot at all. 

The EMU campus has been experiencing many different things since COVID hit a year ago. It is important that the school has been putting the health of its staff and students as its number one priority, therefore they have to follow the Center for Disease Control guidelines to social distance and wear masks in order to still be able to continue on-campus activity properly. But of course, these protocols are something new that everyone needs to get used to and will make on-campus interactions different in some ways. And like everyone else, commuter students also face challenges to adapt to the new health protocols. With these, they have limited spaces to take their masks off, to lounge between classes, or to have lunch. 

One of the popular places for commuter students to take a break between classes is Common Grounds. Who doesn’t know this famous coffeehouse on campus? Common Grounds has been playing the role of hosting student activities and serving as a hangout spot for everyone. This is my to-go place when I need an emergency coffee, bagel, or something to boost my energy throughout the day. The Indian Elephant is very delicious (might be my favorite drink there besides coffee), and I hope they bring it back in the spring or fall. Unfortunately, Common Grounds has reduced its capacity since Fall 2020 for students to come in and hangout. So now, it is suggested for them to only have take-out. Junior Graciella Odelia commented, “I used to come here before COVID hit. Now, I have to go back to my apartment to have lunch, even just for a short time. Fortunately, my apartment is not that far from campus.” While she doesn’t mind walking back and forth to campus, this situation must be inconvenient for her to do almost every day. 

With Common Grounds limiting its capacity, commuter students are turning to the library, another popular choice for them to spend the day doing homework, taking classes, doing research, and more. “We try our best to accommodate both commuters and residential students,” Bonnie Bowser, Circulation and Office Manager at the library, explained. “Sometimes, I will just tell them to come in and spread out in the building so they can do what they need to do.” Thankfully, the library is currently open and accessible for commuters. But because the library has a limited number of personal study rooms on the first floor, some commuters walk back up to the front desk and ask if there are any other rooms available for them to take their masks off and attend their online classes. 

Another creative way for commuter students to get fresh air between classes is to have lunch and/or take naps in their cars. With the cold weather, and occasional snow and rain, outdoor seating is not their number one choice. The Commuter Lounge, which is supposed to be a dedicated space for them, now has decreased capacity, and they can’t take their mask off inside the building. One of the choices they have is to check the weather often and ask their professors if they can take classes from home when the weather is not great. Ever since EMU established that online learning was possible, this option has been a very helpful tool to continue the learning process while adjusting to the pandemic situation. 

As commuter students keep moving with these changes, they know that they are doing what they can to keep the campus safe and to keep the learning process going forward. Some of these adjustments might put them in a tricky situation that might be uncomfortable, like scrunching up in their cars to eat Chick-Fil-A in ten minutes. But, campus safety is a number one priority, and having a picnic in a car by yourself in the middle of the parking lot while it’s raining outside could sound a little bit romantic.