Commuter and on-campus students enjoyed the first three days of Commuter Appreciation Week and look forward to the week’s continuing events.

Rebecca Kapler has been the coordinator of UCommute, Off-Campus and Commuter Services since Fall 2011. Kapler instituted Commuter Appreciation Week as a necessary opportunity to show students, specifically commuters, that the university cares about their presence at Kent State.

“We are trying to reach out more and make commuter students realize we are here for what they need on campus,” Kapler said.

This is the second semester UCommute has hosted Commuter Appreciation Week. AJ Tucker, member of Undergraduate Student Government’s programming board, helped out with Commuter Appreciation Week. Tucker, sophomore exploratory major, said he is a commuter from Twinsburg and has experienced difficulties engaging in campus involvement.

“Commuter Appreciation Week is beneficial to commuters because it gives them a chance to socialize and interact with other students on campus,” Tucker said.

Kayla Donovan, sophomore architecture major, commutes from Akron, and said she attended UCommute’s free lunch in the NEST Tuesday. Donovan said she attends UCommute events like Commuter Appreciation Week because they give her an opportunity to relax in-between classes on campus when she doesn’t have time to drive home.

“I just think [Off-Campus and Commuter Services] could have made this event more known,” Donovan said. “I only found out about it by chance, and I’m glad I did.”

Donovan said she plans to attend Thursday’s commuter appreciation event, “Relaxation Station.” Relaxation Station will provide free massages for students in the NEST from 2 to 4 p.m., complimentary of Kent State’s Organization of Athletic Training Students.

“There will be two OATS students performing massages,” Kapler said. “It’s nice because we’re able to utilize other student organizations to practice for their future.”

Kapler said she expects a good amount of students to attend Relaxation Station Thursday.

“I think Commuter Appreciation Week is great,” said Jon Patton, senior physics major. “It reassures students that there’s an organization out there that cares about us, which I think makes students more inclined to join on-campus organizations.”

Contact Arielle Campanalie at [email protected].