By Theresa Schliep
Commuters in the Caff was replaced with a new Breakfast program, Commuter Breakfast Club (Courtesy of Julia Comerford/The Fordham Ram).
This month, Commuter Students Services replaced “Commuters in the Caf” with a new breakfast program for commuters. The program, now known as the “Commuter Breakfast Club,” premiered Feb. 17.
The new version of the club will provide catered food in the Student Lounge, according to Monique Dumaine, assistant director for leadership and commuter student services. This is a change from “Commuters in the Caf” in that previously, students received passes into the Marketplace to eat.
“Commuter Assistants sought to foster a greater sense of community amongst the commuter population,” said Dumaine. By moving it from the Marketplace to the condensed setting of the Student Lounge, students will be able to bond more and enjoy local food.
“The Commuter Assistants were interested in fostering a stronger community in the Student Lounge,” said Dumain .“With the ‘Commuters in the Caf’ program, many commuter students would pick up a voucher and run upstairs for food. With this new ‘Commuter breakfast experience, students are able to spend time in the Student Lounge, meet fellow Rams and get a taste of local food all in one place.”
Commuter Assistants developed the idea during their retreat at the beginning of the semester, Dumaine said. During the month of January, the breakfast program was suspended in order to organize the “Commuter Breakfast Club.”
“The Commuter Assistants wanted to spend this time creating a meaningful program that fit within their goals of building community in the Student Lounge,” said Dumaine. “The month of January was focused on reaching out to vendors and creating a game plan for the rest of the Spring Semester.”
Jane Parisi, FCRH ’19, a Commuter Assistant, helped develop and plan the breakfast. Parisi said she thinks this will give commuting students more freedom when it comes to eating their breakfast and socializing.
“I think people are looking forward to a different option,” said Parisi. “It gives them more freedom because now you can grab it and go. Or, you can stay and do your work, use the computers or play pool.”
Parisi said the main vendors they will use are Lenny’s Bagels and Barinos. The breakfast will now be Fridays in the lounge from 9 a.m. —11 a.m.
