 "Photo: By: John Crowley")
It's that lovely time of day, when I have to come to campus and park my car. Oh, how I dread this time when I have classes three days a week. Quinnipiac University's North Lot parking situation is HORRENDOUS, DEPLORABLE AND OUTRAGEOUS!
In the past few weeks particularly, it's taken me approximately 20-30 minutes to find a parking spot. This means that I often have to come to campus an hour before my classes, or sometimes I need to come at 8 a.m. for a 3:30 p.m. class. This is unacceptable and unfair. The administration may not realize it, but many students need to work in order to support themselves through college. A schedule like this is most definitely not conducive to that situation.
I can be almost 100 per cent guaranteed that their response, if they choose to respond to this piece, will be something like, "Park at Hogan." I refuse to park at Hogan, as the shuttles are unreliable and as a commuter, I should have every right to park on my campus.
There are some parking spots, to the right of the North Lot guardhouse, which are reserved for commuter carpools. This situation is also unfair! What if you and your roommates have varying schedules? Or what if you want to have the freedom to come and go as you please? These are all issues that Quinnipiac never takes into consideration, particularly because they all stem from the fact that –gasp-- school may not be the only thing you do here.
I believe this will be an even bigger problem next year when the students from the York Hill campus are allowed to park in North Lot. If we already don't have enough spaces, where are they going to park?
I think one solution would be to allow all students to park throughout North Lot. Meaning the carpool commuter section should be open to all students. I also think opening up South Lot to students at noon (instead of 4 p.m. or later) will help alleviate the problem.
Another issue with the parking situation on campus is one, which I was forced to deal with in my sophomore year, is the fact that Whitney Lot closes at 11 p.m. This is unbelievable! What if I choose to come "home" to Quinnipiac after that? I know the administration would say to call security, but why do I want to wait for them? That's a HUGE inconvenience and it didn't help me out because I always brought (and continue to bring back) tons of stuff whenever I travel from my home in New York to school in Connecticut.
Well, I got my frustration out, but will this solve the problem? It most likely won't. Students need to continue to use their voice, as they have done with the graduation issue, in order to see real change. So speak up Bobcats, speak up!
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