In a matter of two days I have acquired $50 worth of parking tickets, and I know my case is not the worst. I have talked to and overheard students telling and retelling how every time they come out to their cars after class they have another parking ticket on their windshield. It is not uncommon for a student to have $125 worth of parking ticket debt by the end of the week and even worse, a debt of $100 by the end of one day. What are students to do when where they thought it was okay to park are now “restricted lots” or only reserved for commuters, faculty and staff from the hours of 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Is it fair to the many unfortunate students who are confined to the limitations of ridiculous on campus housing that we can only park in Phase 1-3 or the UC? Is it morally right to make people pay or fine those who park in a dirt parking lot? I know I am not alone when I say “I think not!” So of course what President Wright and the rest of the faculty and staff here at Prairie View want us to do as students is to not complain, but to speak out and help seek a change. For everyone’s information and from the “help” of Mr. Ray Curry in the Information Center (for those who don’t know that is the little building at the campus entrance where you can get parking permits) I have found out that this “Parking Project” is something that still hasn’t got all the kinks worked out and is being implemented at the expense of us, the students.
This project is supposed to call for new lots to be placed on campus, which many may not know is for commuters, faculty and staff not the on campus residents. If we are caught in lots like the paved and dirt lots by the MSC or the New Science Building we will be ticketed at our expense. As of now, there is no plan to help increase the number of parking spaces outside of a resident’s dorm so they won’t have to walk to class in inclement weather (like the bad rain storms we’ve experienced), or walk late at night after studying in the library all day, or to get to work on time after leaving class. Residents on this campus are expected to leave their cars parked in the phases or UC to walk to class, and then must walk back to the dorms to get their cars so they can complete their day’s activities. The ironic thing is we are supposed to be okay with this, abide by the rules and wait to see what happens. But unlike some, I am not going to wait. A change must be sought. My recommendation was to allow on campus residents to also purchase a commuter sticker in addition to their resident parking sticker. This way we can legally park in all lots and will be in less debt because for $70 one can avoid accumulating over $100+ in parking ticket debt.
In closing, I would just like to say that we need to remember that “Prairie View INDEED Produces Productive People,” but they don’t always necessarily hire the most productive people. I hope that President Wright, the staff in the Information Center and especially students read this article and help me to fight for a change.