The Daily Campus

Issue date: 11/19/08 Section: Commentary

When the weather gets colder, students are more likely to begin trying to find ways to avoid walking to class. Especially with sunset coming earlier and earlier, the temptation builds to hop in the car, instead of trudging all the way across campus in the dark. But, before putting the keys in the ignition, consider the repercussions: There will likely be one of those small orange envelopes under your windshield when you return, reminding you that Parking Services does not allow students to park in most lots around campus until after 5 p.m.

Considering the parking shortage on campus, it would be prudent for Parking Services to change the hours that employee parking lots are reserved. Currently, these lots are generally reserved for professors from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. However, most of these lots begin to clear out by 3 p.m. and are nearly empty before students can park there legally. Much of the emptiness can be attributed to professors leaving earlier in the day to try to beat rush-hour traffic and the overwhelming numbers of early morning classes, many of which allow professors to leave well before the 5 p.m. parking deadline. Regardless, their early exodus ought to be put to use for students.

If students were allowed to park in faculty lots beginning at 4 p.m., it would make it much easier for students to make it to evening classes. Since many evening classes begin between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m., changing the parking deadline would make a huge difference to students. This is especially true as, with temperatures rapidly dropping and darkness coming increasingly early, it makes sense to give students the opportunity to drive to their later classes, if only so they do not end up walking back in the dark.

Allowing students to park in faculty lots beginning at 4 p.m. would also decrease safety concerns. Many students who live in apartments worry about having to walk all the way back home in the dark, particularly with the recent campus violence. Being able to park on campus would allow students to drive back to their apartments in the evening, thus alleviating their fears.

Beyond this, changing the reserved faculty lot hours would not be harmful to faculty members. Indeed, when was the last time a faculty member arrived on campus between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m.?

All in all, allowing students to park in faculty parking lots beginning at 4 p.m. would help to alleviate the problem of evening on-campus parking and would help to ensure that students can feel safe as it begins to get darker sooner.

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