Ever have a few hours to kill, but there’s no point in going home? This is a constant problem for many of the commuting students here on campus at Millersville University. I myself find this problem often, especially with gas prices these days… not to mention that if you move your car, you’ll probably never find another spot as good as that one again (but that’s a whole other issue). So I have a few suggestions to help when those minutes start to drag.
I previously wrote an article about the awesome new Club de’VILLE commuter lounge here on campus, located on the bottom for at the Student Memorial Center. Like I said before, it’s pretty nice and fully equipped to help you occupy yourself for a few hours. Computers and televisions are set up to help ensure that if you need to get work done you can, as well as distract yourself if you want. Couches are comfortable enough to sit on and possibly fall asleep. Yes, I have seen a few commuters just nap throughout their breaks!
If you don’t want to just sit around in the lounge, there are a few other options that are just as nice and possibly even better.
First there is the Student Memorial Center itself, and located within it is the Galley. You can find yourself a nice snack or meal and just take a break in the dining area. There are plenty of tables to choose from and you might even find someone else to work with.
Inside the SMC you can also find the gym. If walking all around campus just isn’t cutting it for you and you want to work out, there’s a nice area to exercise in. They have everything that you would ever want to use, from treadmills to free weights so you can get a nice burn in between classes.
If you want to get away from the SMC because you spend too much time there anyways, there are more options to chose from around campus. My personal favorite, along with my fellow commuter Allegra Acaster, is the Sugar Bowl.
“I like the Sugar Bowl because they have great food, and they’re right here on campus. I don’t have to walk forever, and I don’t have to eat food from the school,” Acaster said.
Not only is it a nice place that is fairly quiet most of the time, it is a great place to get lunch. As long as you don’t go during lunch time, their busy hour, it’s fast and cheap. The service is nice and the atmosphere is great. The food is good, and at a nice price for what you get. If you don’t have a meal plan like myself, it’s nice to stop in and get something quick to eat and not having to worry that I might not be able to pay with a card.
If the Sugar Bowl isn’t your thing, then you could head on up to the George Street Café. It’s a nice little café, filled with many options for deli style sandwiches along with soups, salads and tasty treats. I hear they made a mean cup of coffee as well, and they have many events relative to Millersville and the surrounding community.
Now if you’re not looking for a place to eat, which is pretty easy to find all around campus, then you can head on over to the commuter house. If you just want a nice quiet place to study, read, write a paper or just chill out between classes then this is a good place to go. The house is a nice little house that makes you feel right at home the moment you step through the door.
If you’re looking for that feeling without driving all the way back home, then you’ve come to the right place. Movies line the wall on top of the television set in the first room, and you can kick your feet up and just sit back and watch and kill a few hours. The house is nice and big, with a second floor and a kitchen. So if you want to bring your lunch, you can stick it in the fridge or warm it up using the microwave
The commuter house is located in the Philadelphia House on Frederick Street. As of right now the street is under construction, but you can get to the house by cutting through the back parking lot located by Brookwood.
Not living on campus can always cause issues. Not having a dorm room to go back to and study or just kill time can be a little inconvenient at times. But you don’t have to just spend your time sitting in your car with nothing to do. Now that winter is right around the corner and the weather’s getting colder, you’ll want to find a nice warm place to spend your time in. These are just a few places that can help pass the time, as well as help you complete your studies. So don’t worry about going all the way home, especially if you live far away from campus. Just look for a nice place to hang out, study, and grab a bite to eat around here at Millersville. There are more than enough places to chill out and meet new people.