TYLER KEOHANE | Reporter

In celebration of commuter students on campus, Lindenwood’s Student Involvement will be hosting events and giving away free food and drinks all week long.

On the Saint Charles campus of Lindenwood, around 1,100 undergraduate students are commuter students, meaning they drive to campus and do not reside in campus housing.

The week of Sept. 17, Student Involvement will host a different event each day to honor commuters.

Coordinator for Student Involvement and organizer of the appreciation week, Rachael Heuermann, is new to her position at Lindenwood, but wants to continue the legacy that her predecessor created.

The week will kick off with a free breakfast and coffee on Monday, Sept. 17, from 7:30-10 a.m. on the Memorial Arts Building and Roemer Hall parking lots.

Following Monday’s free breakfast, there will be free lunch catered by Qdoba on Tuesday. This will be located at the Pavilion on the Heritage Side of campus from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

There will be free “cab rides” available to commuter students on Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., so students do not have to worry about walking into class late and out of breath.

“From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., the Chick-fil-A cow will be driving the [golf] carts,” Heuermann said.

Also on Wednesday, a chef will be hosting “Cooking with Commuters” in Spellmann’s dining hall. The chef will be giving students tips and tricks while giving out free food from 3-4 p.m.

Thursday brings more free food, drinks, and entertainment with the “Commuter Break” in the Library and Academic Resource Center. This takes place from 3-5 p.m. Students who register through InvolveU are eligible to get a “free specialized drink” from Starbucks.

The final day of festivities, Friday, will bring students to the Commuter Lounge, on the third floor of Evans Commons, for free coffee and other drinks from 8-10 a.m. Commuter Coffee is a monthly event where commuters can hang out and drink coffee, tea, etc. with their peers.

Heuermann said commuter students “can be a part of everything.” Whether it be a fraternity or a club, commuter students can join any club or event that residential students are able to.

At times, Heuermann said commuter students can feel awkward because they don’t have the resources and information readily available to them like residential students do.

Heuermann said she encourages commuter students to get involved. In the future, Heuermann said Student Involvement will host events dedicated to the inclusion of commuter students.

A commuter organization is in its creation stages to update and connect those students socially to campus.