Rooyman’s Hall is more than just the RAC Grille. It now features the commuters’ lounge that was previously set up in Founder’s Hall before being turned into a graphic design lab.
Not living on campus can cause commuters to feel separate from the campus community. Instead of having their own space to spend their time in between classes, they are forced to find a way to use their time without leaving campus.
Since commuters are not required to have a meal plan, providing their own food is one option that is available to them. With bringing their own food comes the need for storage and later reheating. The lounge is equipped with a full-sized refrigerator as well as a microwave.
As far as a way to pass the time, the commuter lounge features two televisions, a pool table, vending machines for snacks and beverages and couches to relax.
While Cabrini provides the lounge as a space for commuters, many of them don’t know that this lounge exists. Amy Guarino, an early child education major, is a commuter who was oblivious to the fact that Cabrini has a commuter lounge.
Guarino said, “I transferred here and this is only my second semester and I didn’t know there was a commuters lounge.”
Students who have been here for four years previously used the commuters lounge when it was located in Rooyman’s hall where the RAC is currently stationed, saying that it’s not the same as it was when they first started here. Ernest Ahweza, a senior accounting major, describes his experience with the commuter lounge as the “chill spot” when he was a commuter freshman and sophomore year.
“Back when I was a commuter the RAC was a spot where all the commuters would go to chill, play video games, table tennis and pool,” Ahweza said. “Now people don’t see it as a lounge, they see it as a food place with a pool table.”
It’s also believed that the commuters lounge in Founder’s was a lot more convenient because that’s where a lot of the classes are held and they didn’t have to go far to heat up lunch that they’ve brought.
According to students, computers and a more guided direction on where the lounge is located are a few key components that would make Rooyman’s hall more appealing to commuters.
With all the changes happening around Cabrini and with new students still trying to get to know the campus it’s hard to keep track of what’s happening without having some kind of guidance.
