I do not understand why the grassy area in Bray Lot has not been converted into three spots. It would increase the available parking by three, and that’s better than nothing. The grass seems to serve no purpose, either. There is enough open grass across the street and even just outside the gate. Parking lots should be for parking, and not necessarily for beauty.
I also understand that parking is not guaranteed even though I paid for a parking permit, but it is not right when other students do not even have permits and are parking in spaces where I would have otherwise been able to park.
Furthermore, opening another dorm lot closer to the student dorms on the hill might be a good idea. At night, when most students are in their dorms, is when they want their cars to be closest to their homes. By not having the Warren Lot, students are confined to four lots that do not seem to be enough, even with the ban on freshman vehicles. During the day, when faculty and staff are on campus, it doesn’t seem they need to access their vehicles but two times a day about 8 to 9 am and about 4 to 5 pm. Why not make the faculty and staff park at the Field House and shuttle them down, and have the students (whose schedules are more erratic) park close to where they need to be—their dorm and easy access off-campus?
I have also been ticketed for parking in the Commons West Lot (between Warren and Hall Halls). I do not understand why this has to be such a problem when there are plenty of spots for people with the ‘correct lot’ permit. Usually when I walk by this lot I can count anywhere from 6-12 open spots that are available. Why should the D-Lot permit holders be constantly struggling to find parking spaces? And with the new garage open, why aren’t the faculty and staff forced to park there when undergrads are not allowed? How does this make sense? If I had the opportunity and money, I would park in the garage and have an assured spot every night. But as a college student, I have neither because tuition and cost of attendance increase every year. On the other hand, the faculty and staff members have money because they are being paid to work here. Why does it feel like the students are being punished when the reason most of the faculty and staff having a job is a result of the students? Shouldn’t administration cater to the students’ needs, wishes, and demands?
I am continually appalled by what seems to be a lack of action in the Parking and Transportation Office. I seem to understand that they have recently conducted a survey of how many people without permits park in the D-Lots after hours. Apparently this is a substantial contribution to the cars that do park in the D-Lots. So the Administration decided the solution is to place new signs at the lot entrances and send out communications reaffirming the fact that these lots are for D-Lot permit holders. Eventually, the lots will be made into 24-hour D-Lots. So why should we spend more money to already inform people that these lots are D-Lots and immediately move into 24-hour status? Or better yet, why not give us back the Commons West Lot or at least a row next to Warren Hall or even the small lot next to Hall Hall while forcing the faculty to park in the garage?
One last item, which concerns traffic around campus. The new traffic light at the College Ave and 15th Street intersection serves no purpose outside the hours of maybe 8 to 10 am and 4 pm to 6 pm. I don’t really see enough traffic flow to warrant that traffic light. And placing it there costs money which students hold so dearly. I detest seeing objects like traffic lights and money be wasted and I feel this disgust every time I pass this intersection. But please look beyond my own personal feelings about the matter and look at the facts. Were there accidents or problems with this intersection that call for a traffic signal? If anything, a yellow flashing light on 15th Street and flashing red one on College Avenue would be an improvement. Being a technical school, I think any electrical or civil engineer would know how to do this. Let us use our knowledge in a practical application right here on campus.
Manit Limlamai
APHY & ELEC ’04
