STUDENTS ON THE GO

Getting to class isn't just a walk across campus for Thomas Haupt. The rural Jackson man is one of thousands of students who commute to Southeast Missouri State University.

The 19-year-old sophomore is starting his second year at Southeast. Haupt said commuters often spend little time on campus, leaving as soon as they're done with classes.

"I see a lot of my friends who are commuters go home after classes," he said.

Haupt and fellow commuter student Rose Southerland of Jackson want to get commuters more involved in campus life.

They are organizing a new group for commuter students called Chi Sigma Omega. It stands for Commuter Student Organization.

Haupt said the organization will be a social one just like a fraternity. "We figured with a Greek name we could maybe attract more people," he said.

The organization, he hopes, will give commuter students more of a sense of belonging on the Southeast campus. "I want them to have fun on campus and experience college life," he said.

As a commuter, Haupt has gone out of his way to meet fellow students and make friends. "Some of us go to the dorms and hang out there," he said.

But many commuters won't go to such lengths to meet people. "A lot of people are really timid and afraid to even consider doing that," he said.

Many commuter students there isn't a place they can call their own on campus.

Haupt said the student organization could help. The first meeting is Wednesday from noon to 1 p.m. in the University Center's Riverboat Room.

Like many commuters, Southerland and Haupt have part-time jobs off campus. Haupt works at Schnucks supermarket and Southerland works at a nursing home. She also works in the office of Lisa Peden, coordinator for student life studies and commuter student services.

"It is hard for commuters to get together and find out about the activities going on on campus and just get to know people," said Southerland.

Haupt said commuter students often go unnoticed at the university. "Most of the press and public relations go to students who live on campus," he said.

But in many ways, Southeast is a commuter school. Most of its students commute to the campus.

Last spring, nearly 70 percent of Southeast's 8,524 students commuted to the school. Nearly 30 percent of the 5,868 commuter students lived in Cape Girardeau. Another 572 came from Jackson, school records show.

Others commute from farther away, Peden said, including Farmington, Poplar Bluff and Dexter in Southeast Missouri.

Peden's office is in its third year of existence. Peden's duties include coordinating services for adult learners and non-traditional students as well as commuter students.

Non-traditional students are typically 25 years of age or older. Some are married. Some have children. "Many commuter students are non-traditional students," Peden said.

Her office tries to help foster carpools by matching students who need rides and those willing to give them.

Peden said it is relatively new service. Few students, she said, have taken advantage of it.

There is a lounge in the University Center for commuter students. It is behind the information center. But Haupt and Southerland said many commuter students don't know it exists.

"It is back in the corner," Southerland said.

Peden said the university has tried to reach out to commuter students. Last year, a car fair was held. Local mechanics and auto-parts stores were represented.

"Commuters are in their cars all the time," she said.

"I know there are commuter students that pretty much live out of their cars. They eat in their cars. They study in their cars. They sleep in their cars," said Peden.

Reaching commuters can be a tough task. "They have so many different competing interests and competing demands on their time.

"To a certain extent," said Peden, "my office is trying to be an advocate for them."

The case for commuters at Southeast Missouri State University

Total enrollment spring 2000: 8,524

Of those, 5,868 or 68.8 percent were commuters.

Of the commuters, 1,726 students or 30 percent commuted from Cape Girardeau.

A total of 572 students commuted from Jackson. Another 524 students commuted from Perryville and Sikeston.

The rest of the commuters (3,046) came from other locations.

Source: Southeast Missouri State University