The Commuter Student Association (CSA) is a student government organization that provides a space for commuters’ voices to be heard and a place for community among commuters. CSA meets weekly to discuss on-going topics and issues and to develop a variety of events on campus such as monthly lunches, Commuter Appreciation Week, the CSA Car Show during family weekend, and so much more. It seeks to establish an equal, represented community for Siena’s commuter population, acting as a liaison between the governing bodies, staff, and administration of Siena and the commuter students. To get a better picture of the impact CSA has, it is important to hear from members of the association.
Sana Seth ‘27, an event coordinator for the CSA, when asked how CSA has impacted her experience as a commuter, recalled how the organization has allowed her to get to know more commuters. She continued to describe how being a commuter is, or can be, so much more than what it may seem. “It’s not just driving to school and immediately going home; you find your place on campus through events and extracurriculars.” The CSA has been that “place” for many commuter students.
Samina Hanif ‘27, CSA Vice President, when asked the same question, explained, “CSA has given me the opportunity to break out of my shell and really immerse myself into the community at Siena.” She said that the CSA is where she met some of her closest friends and made very meaningful connections.
Kaitlyn Agneta ‘28, CSA’s Commuter at Large representative for Senate, agreed that the CSA has allowed her to become much more involved on campus than she has been in the past. She remarked, “the work the CSA does for our community does an amazing job bringing both commuters and residents together.”
Carissa Brunt ‘26 is another event coordinator for the CSA, and she spent months planning the CSA Car Show, which was on October fourth during Family Weekend. She discussed being a part of the CSA as someone who attended its events as a freshman. “I relied heavily on going to the events on campus to get involved [at that time] and now that I’m a senior it’s fulfilling to create events that new commuters can rely on as well.” She explained that the Car Show has been her favorite thing that she has been involved with in her time with the CSA.
Providing events and opportunities for commuter students has not been the CSA’s only mission, as the CSA and the Commuter Transition Program (CTP) have just finished renovating the commuter lounge located in Snyder Hall. The CSA has also been met with the challenge of snow days. Sometimes, it can be hard for students who don’t live on campus to make it to class in inclement weather, and if snow days aren’t announced efficiently, commuter students may put themselves at risk to drive to school before the announcement is made. The group arranged meetings with the provost and public safety to address and better prepare for future snow days, ensuring the safety of the Siena Community.
If you have an interest in getting involved in the CSA, their weekly meetings are open to all students, and are held on Mondays at 1:00 PM in the SSU Molinari Room. Additionally, as student government elections are approaching, now is the perfect time to get involved in the CSA!