ISU Bengal

Issue date: 1/23/08 Section: Opinion

Media Credit: Alisha Hatch Blocked off parking behind the Rendezvous Building due to snow accumulation.

Returning back to the Rendezvous center, I almost parked on top of one of the cones that are blocking off the parking all along the back of the Rendezvous suites. Students living at the Rendezvous are now forced to the park in the lot behind the Owen/Redfield building. I found one spot left in that parking lot, but I was struck with the realization that I had to pull my large suitcase, my box of twenty-nine books for the upcoming semester and my laptop bag down the hill to my room. I began the journey with a choice between two options: I could either throw my suitcase down the icy stairs and hope for the best or brave the icy hill and hope for the best. I chose the hill road, which was a longer walk, but it gave me time to reflect. I thought about why, after working the entire Christmas break to pay to live on campus for the convenience, did I return to begin pulling my suitcase through snow a mile away from my suite.
I was not the only one who had a qualm or two about the parking situation. Here are some students' own words about their thoughts on the parking conditions at the Rendezvous center. There is a good blend of complaints and solutions-enjoy.
Sam Cornwall, a sophomore, said, "They should get rid of (Cadet Field) and turn it into parking. There's a huge shortage of parking-not just at the Rendezvous, but everywhere."
Ivy Sessions, a junior, said "Parking sucks here because when you buy a general pass, the spots are too far from your classes and the rest are metered."
Mike Ramos, a junior, said, "I live here and I can't even find a parking spot, and if I do it's a mile away."
Krystal Barnes, a sophomore, said, "I parked at Holt so I knew I would get a spot. There's not enough."
Shamae Lyon, a senior, said, "All my classes are here, but I can never find a spot, and it really pisses me off."
Gabi Johnson, a sophomore, said, "I'm thinking of starting a shuttle service to get people to their cars. There's a chance of getting raped in more ways than one. I think we are getting raped in the way that we are paying all this money and there's no parking."
Carly Lamure, a freshman, said, "It's bad. I think the meters don't work. The tickets are unnecessary when you only go over a little time. The other parking is too far away, especially in the winter. I can't find parking, yet the metered is never full. It's a pain to have to lug all your stuff to behind Reed Gym."
Monicza Oppelt, a junior, said, "I'm tired of walking from BFE in the middle of the night. How about getting some parking? At 11 o'clock at night, I have to haul fifty pounds of groceries and it's dark because there's no lights."
Andrew Kupchock, a junior, said, "I don't even have a car and I'm pissed"

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