P.O. Box is new mail courier

As of Aug. 15, the department of Residential Living and Learning at Texas A&M University-Commerce ceased all U.S Postal service to the residence halls; Smith Hall, Berry Hall, Whitley Hall, all West Hall buildings, Family housing, New Pride Apartments, Sorority Halls, Women's Hall, and Prairie Crossing Apartments.

Currently, there is a new process of distributing mail to university residents. There are two options for students who wish to receive U.S Postal delivery. Students can either obtain a P.O. Box at the campus post office, located at old MSC, or students can obtain a P.O. box at the city of Commerce post office, located in town on Park Street. P.O. boxes rent for $22 for six months or $44 for a year and students will have access to their mail 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Students who do wish to purchase a P.O. Box will have a faster delivery time of their mail than others in the residence halls.

The decision to cease postage to the residents directly at their halls was made in a joint effort by the department of Residential Living and Learning, business affairs, Dean of Students office, and the U.S. Postal Service.

"The decision to eliminate postage to residence halls was made after several complaints from students that there was too much of a delay on the delivery of the mail," Dennis Koch, Interim Director of Residential Living and Learning, said.

Koch hopes this new process of distributing mail will be more effective and convenient for the university's residents.

Fortunately for Koch, after speaking with students who live on campus, this new process seems to just as effective as he hoped.

"It is much more convenient to pick up my mail at my campus P.O. box than waiting on it to be distributed to my residence hall. Now I can pick it up anytime that I want," Myranda Bille, university housing resident, said.

Another resident said the new time frame is something she also likes.

"I enjoy the 24/7 access I have to mail rather than waiting around for it like before," Theresa DiMarco, university resident, said.

This new process will be evaluated in 18 months by the department of Residential Living and Learning to decide if this is the most effective way to offer postal service to the residents of Texas A&M University-Commerce.