This week has seen the first of what will be many cold days in New York City. Last year, I never let the cold get me down, as it was easy to avoid. Between classes, residents of McMahon Hall can scurry through the hall from Lowenstein to McMahon without ever facing the brisk weather.
Commuters, on the other hand, don't have that luxury. I found this one out the hard way. Faced with a 2 hour break between my classes, and 40 degree weather outside, I realized that there was no easy way to hop home for a quick lunch, or even better, a nap. I was forced to find a way to kill time in Lowenstein. What a challenge it was.
FCLC is in large part a commuter campus, but, in my opinion, lacks a lot of amenities for said commuters. Sure there are the three Ls (Lounges, Labs, and the Library), but there isn't really a place to kick back and relax.
The computer labs on the third floor of Lowenstein are often crowded with scurrying students trying to finish last minute homework. For someone looking to kill time, the labs are pretty useless. With an unsaid rule of "do work or get out", I find myself pretty uncomfortable in the computer lab browsing Facebook while others are waiting to finish a last-minute assignment.
Sure, the lounges are nice and airy, but they are often too crowded to even get a seat. The second floor soft-lounge offers comfortable seating and a laid-back atmosphere, but who really wants to sit that close to the financial aid office? You are really taking your life into your own hands, as there are hourly verbal disagreements and often threats of violence between dejected students trying to pay their bill and often clueless financial aid staff. (Maybe I exaggerated about the threats of violence. Maybe that one's just me...)
And don't get me started on the library. For anyone not cramming at 12 a.m. for a final or midterm, this place is the pits. Dark, cold, and totally uninviting, "relaxing" is a non-option.
So, here's my plea. To the people at Fordham who can make things happen: on behalf of all commuters here at FCLC, PLEASE give us somewhere comfortable to relax. We're not asking for much. Some comfortable chairs and a judgement-free zone shouldn't be that hard to provide. Can't we check our Facebooks and drink a cup of coffee in peace? Without braving the elements?
Until then, I guess I will have to suffer in the cafeteria. While it's loud, echoing, and downright uncomfortable, at least I can sit for a few hours without being chased.
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