The Saint
Townsend society aims to help alienated students
In January a survey of mature and part-time students revealed that many commuting students felt isolated from student life. This week The Saints Jasmine Wheelhouse spoke to Townsend Society President, Laura Macdonald, to see what was being done to improve the university experience of people living outside of St Andrews.
T.S. Firstly, could you explain a bit about what Townsend Society is?
L.M. Its a society set up for students who commute to St Andrews for whatever reason. It could be that they dont get accommodation in St Andrews, so they have to go out as far as Dundee. Some are more local and they just drive in rather than spending unnecessary money, some may have families and they come in purely to do the degree.
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T.S. I assume you have been a commuter yourself, how did you deal with it?
L.M. I found that it is a lot cheaper to travel back and forth than it is to live in St Andrews. You have a choice to either live at home, or get a flat in Dundee for half the price, and yes, you do miss out on some of the social life, some of the friendships you make, but if you just want the degree then its okay.
T.S. I dont think Ive met a commuting student at all
L.M. Thats probably because were quite quiet in class and you dont see us. I didnt tell anyone that I was a commuting student. Usually we sit at the back and are very quiet in tutorials. Its good if you have a good friend base though.
Lecturers dont really understand either, they find it difficult to grasp if you are late because you didnt get parked or got stuck behind a tractor on the way in, not because you just rolled out of bed
T.S. When was the society set up?
L.M. The society has been around for a number of years, but from September there has been a great effort to make it more public. Weve been trying to make it known to students that this society exists and is there to assist them with life at university, which could otherwise prove difficult.
T.S. What has happened since September?
L.M. We have more recently acquired a room on 79 North Street, near the library which we aim to refurbish and convert into a room offering refreshments, toilet facilities, comfy seats and a place to work. A lot of commuting students dont have anywhere to go during the day so this room will be a place where they can go in between lectures. It can be hard with no real area to go between lectures, especially if you have one at 9am, and another at 4pm.
T.S. How many students are there that commute to St Andrews on a daily basis?
L.M. If Im completely honest, I dont actually know. I currently have around sixty email addresses of people who say they are commuting, but Im sure that there is more. Its very difficult to get everyone together because not everyone can attend at the same time. We had a social in the Oak Rooms before Christmas and twelve people attended, but since then we have doubled in size.
T.S. What are the main aims of the society?
L.M. Its all about making people aware, many people dont know that the society exists. Our ultimate aim is to improve the student experience for those who dont actually live in St Andrews. The society is also open to students who dont commute but would like to help. Its nice for other students to be involved with the society, just so that commuting students can have a larger circle of friends, almost like an academic family.
T.S. Are there any upcoming events or socials?
L.M. We hold weekly meetings to see how everybody is getting on, and if there is anything they want to talk about. We have one in the day for daytime students, and likewise in the evening.
