Undergraduate Student Government
/ 117A Ohio Union at Ohio Stadium1961 Tuttle Park Place
Columbus, OH 43210-1392
Phone 614-292-2101
Fax 614-292-0405
To: Matt Dodovich, USG Speaker of the Senate; Alex Swain USG Secretary of the Senate
From: Katie Reis, Commuter Senator
Re: Constituency Report for Winter Quarter
Date: 3/15/2008
For the 2008 Winter quarter, Juliana Lippus and I worked to start proceedings on a location change for the commuter lounge from 15th Avenue and High Street to a more central location for commuter students. The current location, while temporary, is very small and inconvenient for commuters to visit. Most commuter students are not even aware of the lounge’s existence. Moving the lounge west of High Street would really make a difference for commuters and use of the lounge would likely increase. Another area of the commuter constituency that we would like to improve is involvement and integration into campus life that living away from campus tends inhibit.
Emails were set to Sean McLaughlin (Off-Campus Student Services) and Mat Tardino (President of Commuter Student Organization) to arrange a meeting about the commuter lounge, arrangement of events, and/or outreach to commuter students. After several emails, a meeting with Sean and Mat fell through because of repeated schedule conflicts. Plans to meet next quarter will be underway. We hope to organize a questionnaire and refreshments at the West campus parking lot to get feedback from our constituency and inform them as to who their government representatives are.
A meeting with Willie Young of Off-Campus Student services occurred on March 7th and possible translocation of the lounge was discussed. Unfortunately, it seemed like he thought space was fairly scarce across campus and a commuter lounge would require a rent payment. Nevertheless, he is going to contact Mary Calhoun about possible space availability and a follow-up meeting with him or Mary should happen in the near future. Also a meeting with Mat Tardino should occur early in Spring quarter to discuss outreach events.