Catching some Zzzzz's in the Commuter Lounge

As a student who never has lived on campus, I appreciate the hardship and struggle that can come with being a commuter. That's why, when I transferred here, I was so excited to learn that URI has a Commuter Lounge. Conveniently located on the third floor of the Memorial Union, the lounge has been near and dear to my heart in the time I've been here.

Today, I enter the premises at approximately 10:15 a.m. There are six students in the lounge, three of whom -- wait, make that four of whom -- are sleeping. The other two are reading or studying.

I ask one of those students if he minds being in any of the photos I intend to take. He doesn't mind. I want to ask him more, but he looks to be an especially studious person, or at least right then he was. Best if I leave him be.

I would question some of the other students about what they're doing here, how often they use the Lounge, and so forth. But that would require me waking them up, and I can't imagine that leading to a very coherent interview. Also, I myself am running on fumes at the current moment and can't imagine interrupting the one activity that I long to do.

Although there is little to no audible human activity or interaction in the Lounge, there is some background noise. The television is on, and it's showing "Comedy Central."

As an experienced Lounge dweller, I can say that one will find the television tuned to "Comedy Central" about 85 percent of the time. That same percentage could probably apply also to how often you would find at least one person fully extended on one of the comfortable couches, taking a nap.

Now that I think of it, there is a couch open in the back, and it's lookin' mighty fine. I have about an hour and a half before my first class, and that's just enough time for me to recharge my battery by getting some shut-eye.

Zzzzzzz . . . .

-- Kyle Jarvis