Parking Services insists that plenty of spaces are still available for on-campus residents. But the fact that several students have had to park on the grass behind Harper-Schramm-Smith suggests otherwise.
On Thursday and Friday, at least five students who were unable to find spaces in the surface residential lot north of the dorms parked on the grass instead. These students ultimately received tickets for the choice.
Dan Carpenter, director of Parking Services, manages the department with strong consideration and respect for students. But his Gestapo-like parking enforcement officers could certainly stand a lesson in empathy, particularly early in the semester.
That’s not to say that parking on the grass is an excusable offense. I mean, come on, that falls into the “DUH” category without question. However, Carpenter himself admits that parking is at its highest demand early in the fall semester. So why wouldn’t parking enforcement be more lenient with warnings during the first two weeks, especially during move-in and week one?
Student parking frustrations are cresting. And if people are brash enough to park on the grass instead of in actual spaces, they might just be brash enough to turn this British parking lot scene into a UNL one.
It’s official. The 17th and R Street surface lot is closed for the construction of a new residence hall. And the Sept. 19 groundbreaking for the Jackie Gaughan Multicultural Center located in the meter lot east of the Nebraska Union will eliminate parking there.
Without a doubt, the month of September will put a jam in student parking.
“The beginning of the semester is when parking is at its peak demand,” said Dan Carpenter, director of University Parking Services.
But according to Carpenter, nearly 400 spaces are still available for students to purchase, a number that includes both residential and commuter parking
The problem is, those spaces are available only in parking garages. Although some students prefer using parking garages to protect their vehicles from the weather, the additional $90 fee that a nine-month garage pass costs compared to a surface lot pass hurts the already tight budget of many college students.
Carpenter assured student government he will continue working to meet student parking needs with projects such as the one to build more garage space on the corner of 19th and Vine streets. But in the meantime, the closure of two prime lots on campus will ensure that parking services remains everyone’s favorite punching bag.
Have you had any problems with parking this semester? Sound off with a comment.
I am a senior journalism student at the University of Nebraska beginning my first endeavor into the world of blogging. I’ve long considered creating a blog covering the life happenings of the ordinary college student. Until now, that concept had been little more than an idea.
And so it begins with a few changes to my original concept. Instead of focusing on the ordinary happenings, I will focus on the issues affecting students … issues such as parking, recreation, tuition, etc. My hope is to provide facts, insight, commentary and discussion for students.
