The Journal

Media Credit: Kholood Eid Jennifer Violett, the assistant director of the University Center and adviser for the Commuter Council, addresses a packed Winifred Moore Auditorium during freshman orientation Friday, Aug. 21.

At a commuter orientation session inside the Winifred Moore auditorium Friday, Aug. 21, most of the questions from students and their parents were about parking. But representatives of Webster University's Commuter Council said they would like to see students devote more time to campus activities and less to
worrying about parking.

"Our hope for this year is to create programs on campus that will get commuter students to be more involved and engaged on campus, rather than continue to be segregated," said Jennifer Violett, the assistant director of the University Center and adviser for the Commuter Council.

Violett would like to see commuter students get involved on campus and attend activities sponsored by different student groups rather than creating separate events. As a former WU commuter student herself, Violett admits she did not feel connected to WU until she took an active interest in campus activities. WU started the Commuter Council last spring to help students get involved on campus.

Previously, WU students have formed groups similar to the Commuter Council. But without the support of a dedicated WU staff person, the groups would eventually fall apart as its founders graduated or lost interest.

That is where Violett comes in.

Violett, a full-time staff member, is responsible for advising and planning for the council. Along with Chris Penberthy, the president of the Commuter Council, they plan to work with different groups around campus to make commuter students a more integrated segment of WU's population. WU, after all, has more commuter students than residents. The council is organized as an advisory board with representation from groups such as the Student Government Association, Public Safety, the Faculty Senate, the Accessibility committee and Residential and Housing Association.

"I have a lot of commuter friends who said they feel isolated from the University," Penberthy said. "We're trying really hard to get the commuters involved in the different campus organizations."

At the commuter orientation session, Penberthy stood behind the podium and led the discussion. He was accompanied by a six-member panel of WU students and staff, each with experience commuting to WU. As they tried to answer all questions coming from the large crowd of incoming freshmen and transfer students, it was clear that the biggest concern was parking.

Questions were asked about parking, how much a parking pass costs, if there are more parking passes than spots, and how hard it is to find parking. The panel responded by repeatedly telling students not to come to campus minutes before class expecting to find a convenient parking spot. Students were told that they can almost always find a spot in the garage.

"I have several friends that go to UMSL and they have to take buses to get to their class," said Penberthy about the frequent complaint that the garage is too far away. "So, we're actually very fortunate that we have such a nice facility that is as close to all the different class buildings that we have."

Violett said more parking passes are sold than there are parking spots on campus.

"I've never had a situation where every single spot on campus is filled," Violett said.

She went on to explain that because there are different student populations, some only taking day classes and some night classes, students should always be able to find a place to park.

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