By Isabelle Veloz
Approximately 27% of Purchase College students do not live on campus and commute to attend classes and various activities. This leads commuter students to face challenges, such as the efficiency of services, the shuttle bus schedules and more.
The White Plains Loop stopped outside the Westchester Mall. (Photo by Isabelle Veloz).
The Purchase commuter students page contains the quality services the campus has committed to providing commuter students to meet their needs. This includes that Purchase wants to “support the needs of commuter students by offering convenient and accessible services. Foster a sense of belonging, involvement, and connection for commuter students with each other and the Purchase community.”
Other campus commitments state they “provide programming that enhances the educational experience for commuter students and is conducive to commuter students’ needs and schedules. Provide personalized, timely information and resources that are necessary for commuter student success and inclusive of the larger campus community as well as specific departmental services, such as Parking Services and Transportation.”
Purchase College has established a shuttle system called “The Loop” that is provided to all students but is more frequently used by students who travel to campus. Many commuters have found faults in the Loop and criticized it for not meeting their needs.
Student Alyssa Ross said, “They’re supposed to wait at my stop longer, and since they don't I miss the shuttle by a slither and have to wait 30 more minutes. It’s really annoying!”
A senior majoring in math and computer science describes the Loop as “too much work.” They continued “The Loop and the train don’t actually meet up at the same time it's a little bit inconvenient.”
Various students who live on campus and utilize the Loop for further job opportunities have also had similar experiences, Tina Maynard, a pre-med student says she doesn't like the Loop, “I'd rather drive or take a taxi, first of all, they’re really late. I had a job interview and the loop was fifteen minutes late, they don’t follow the schedule.”
“Especially during the evening time, it's every hour but it is still an inconvenience because the Metro North train station has a different schedule,” she continued.
“The schedule for the Loop is designed to maximize capacity and frequency during peak ridership. We do not look at the train schedules,” said Executive Director of the Purchase College Association, Patrick Savolskis. “White Plains has trains arriving from multiple locations, there is no sensible way to pick which trains to tie the schedule to. The same issue exists for departures, which trains would we try to sync with?”
Savolskis continued, “Post COVID-19 the cost of running the Loop went up 23%. The Loop is funded by the transportation fee you pay each term. Right now that funding does not cover the total cost of running the service. So adding to the current level of service is not possible.”
Savolskis noted that he does not want students to think the Office of Parking and Transportation are unwilling to modify the Loop, but at this time they have few options.
In addition to providing services like the Loop to commuting students, the Office of Residential and Student Life has also promoted “Foster[ing] a sense of belonging, involvement, and connection for commuter students with each other and the Purchase community.”
Various events and club meetings have been reported to be held late in the evening, limiting the participation of commuter students. Arianna Barros, a student commuter dependent on the Loop said, “I don't drive I need to take the Loop so I usually don't go to late events… I don't get to fully experience college.”
Maynard said, “One of my [commuting] friends doesn’t go to any events, she just goes home.”
Adrian Ochoa who commutes by car has expressed the inconvenience of late events. “It's hard for me to attend them, I'll have to stay longer on campus or go back home, freshen up, and come back which takes a lot of energy and time,” Ochoa said. “So far, I have not felt the desire to attend them because of the factors I'll have to account for.”
The Office of Parking and Transportation has supported the maintenance and facilitation of usage of the commuter students' lounge, but Ochoa has noted the lack of maintenance relating to cleanliness. “I noticed some of the couches have these gross-stained surfaces that take up almost all the space on the couch,” Ochoa said.
Dirty couches in the commuter's lounge in Campus Center North (CCN). (Photo by Arlenis Marmolejos)
Over half of the students found in the Commuter Lounge during peak hours of usage are not commuters, during planned events and club meetings, even fewer commuters are present. Instead, students who live on campus dominate commuter-focused spaces.
A senior majoring in math and computer science wishes for the lounge to be “a little more welcoming and actually for commuters.”
“Sometimes I come here and there are a bunch of people who live on campus, which is fine but it makes it harder for actual commuters to have the space,” they said.
The Office of Residential and Student Life did not respond to comment in a timely manner.
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