Letter to the Editor: Parking
It seems to me that a general complaint about parking at the university will do more to foster unity amongst a group of students than almost any other topic. Parking has been an issue there for several years; this year is no different. If one is to complain about it, (nay, even mention it!) to an administration official, it seems that the general reply is that the number of students has increased by a few percent. This is wonderful for them, for they get the money out of it. They apparently had absolutely no qualms about taking the students’ money.
They have owned, at least in e-mail, that there is a slight problem about parking— no, really? I was recently a recipient of a parking ticket; I can now join a club that I am sure many of my fellow students could also be admitted to. In effect, what they are doing is actually punishing the student for going to class. I did not park in a handicapped spot or in a spot designated for visitors; I parked on the curb far behind the Christel DeHaan building. It was hardly a convenience or luxury to park there.
When one is offered a parking pass, necessarily, one is the recipient of a promise that there is a parking spot there to park in. Admittedly, it does not have to be a good spot, but it must be a spot nonetheless. Do not be fooled by the “At least parking is free here” line; the university has a high enough tuition rate that they cover the parking expenses somewhere in there. Ah, silly people who have given me that line, at least it is free, for you.
I hardly parked on the curb because I thought it would be fun. I parked there for there were no other parking spots available at that time. The university must do something about this problem now and not in the future. They say they are building a new parking lot, good for them. They are building for the immediate future though; of this I am sure. There needs to be a surplus of parking, a plethora of parking, if you will. They also bought a lot across the fairly busy street on Shelby for immediate parking; they have only ‘til someone is hit by a car to rethink that move, I am sure.
What the University of Indianapolis should do is something more like the following idea. They should suspend writing those abhorrent parking tickets. It really is ridiculous that they are punishing people that go to class. Obviously, the commuters need a place to put their car; it follows that there should be a parking spot open for them. I believe it is quite irresponsible of the university (as a business, I might add) to not do everything in their power to make sure the student (or really, the paying customer) is completely happy. I am hardly for anarchy when it comes to where to park, but parking on a curb where it is not blocking others in seems perfectly acceptable in this case.
If a student has nowhere to put the car, it almost seems as if the university really does not want that person there. But, don’t forget to send the check!
Krista Kinslow
