The Collegian Weekly The opinion of The Collegian editorial staff:
Relax Parking rules
Issue date: 11/19/09 Section: Opinion
Campus security should take a hint from the weather and chill out as winter approaches.
Security employees have cracked down on parking lot restrictions in preparation for the approaching season. According to Director of Campus Security Mike Wertz, as non-student lots become partially covered with snow, fewer spaces will be available for faculty and staff who the lots are reserved for.
The security office reported issuing fewer tickets recently, but seems to have continuing problems with some students - one female student got tickets voided after promising not to park in a faculty lot, and then parked there the next day. The office is so frustrated that they are thinking of towing such vehicles from the parking lot.
Security's point: We're fed up. Our point: So are we.
We know Hillsdale College is a "walking campus," but this isn't true for students who live downtown - especially as temperatures drop by the day.
Student parking is extremely limited. We have Lot 7, located across the road from Galloway Hall and the 10 or so spaces along both Hillsdale and Manning streets. These are pretty much the only ticket-free option for students walking to Lane or Kendall halls. There are a lot of parking spaces available for faculty members, but students have to fight over a few allowed areas.
Many students park in the Dow Leadership Center lot, especially after 5 p.m., when the lot empties almost completely. Students who come up the hill at 10 p.m. to study shouldn't have to walk from distant parking lots or poorly lit streets when the Dow lot is basically empty. Security should consider opening the lot to students between the hours of 4 p.m. and 8 a.m., when most other people using the lot will be gone, unless a special evening event will require all of the lot's available spaces, which security could e-mail the school about in advance.
The lot at Koon Residence/Mu Alpha house lot would also be good to open up - it is consistently half full, if that, and is very conveniently located.
So, security office, we would appreciate a second look at student parking availability.
Security employees have cracked down on parking lot restrictions in preparation for the approaching season. According to Director of Campus Security Mike Wertz, as non-student lots become partially covered with snow, fewer spaces will be available for faculty and staff who the lots are reserved for.
The security office reported issuing fewer tickets recently, but seems to have continuing problems with some students - one female student got tickets voided after promising not to park in a faculty lot, and then parked there the next day. The office is so frustrated that they are thinking of towing such vehicles from the parking lot.
Security's point: We're fed up. Our point: So are we.
We know Hillsdale College is a "walking campus," but this isn't true for students who live downtown - especially as temperatures drop by the day.
Student parking is extremely limited. We have Lot 7, located across the road from Galloway Hall and the 10 or so spaces along both Hillsdale and Manning streets. These are pretty much the only ticket-free option for students walking to Lane or Kendall halls. There are a lot of parking spaces available for faculty members, but students have to fight over a few allowed areas.
Many students park in the Dow Leadership Center lot, especially after 5 p.m., when the lot empties almost completely. Students who come up the hill at 10 p.m. to study shouldn't have to walk from distant parking lots or poorly lit streets when the Dow lot is basically empty. Security should consider opening the lot to students between the hours of 4 p.m. and 8 a.m., when most other people using the lot will be gone, unless a special evening event will require all of the lot's available spaces, which security could e-mail the school about in advance.
The lot at Koon Residence/Mu Alpha house lot would also be good to open up - it is consistently half full, if that, and is very conveniently located.
So, security office, we would appreciate a second look at student parking availability.
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