Parking continues to be problem on campus

By: Stephanie Biehl and Kristina Sewell

Posted: 2/24/10

Unless you have been hiding under a rock, or a fallen tree more relevantly, you have most likely experienced what seems like an immense increase in the number of cars on campus. It might surprise one to find out that this is, in fact, not the case.

Chief of Public Safety David Mefford stated that many parking places available to faculty, staff, and students had to be temporarily blocked off in late January following into this month.
This had to happen to ensure the safety of people on the campus in regards to unstable trees slated for removal after the recent rainstorms. Over 50 diseased trees needed to be removed in order to prevent the danger of their falling on persons or property. Thus, as access to available parking spaces was restricted, there was not a sufficient amount of parking to accommodate all residents and commuters.

This stirred a sense of bitterness and discontent, especially among students and for anyone else who was forced to park in the most undesirable place on campus, the East Lot.

Faculty member Jill Ferguson instructs night classes during the week.

"Some of my students were saying they were taking up to 10 minutes to find parking," said Ferguson.

Ferguson also said that some of her students mentioned parking in fire lanes, faculty parking, or at Notre Dame High School because they couldn't find any available parking on campus. Ferguson has never had any trouble finding faculty parking available.

Senior Ka'ili Crabbe believes that there "isn't enough parking, and the East Lot is a waste because no one uses it."
Mefford and a vast amount of students have come to associate East Lot with an unfortunate nickname, the "rape lot."

Mefford says that this name is completely unjustified and uncalled for, as there have never been any crimes located on that portion of the campus. He says the main reason for people not wanting to park in the East Lot is that "students are too lazy to park and walk up the hill. If they can't park close enough, they get upset."

Nonetheless, Mefford still agrees with students in that even without trees falling down all over campus, "parking is still somewhat of a problem, especially when the University hosts events and visitors take up the majority of student parking."

University President Judith Greig feels that the university offers ample parking.

"It's always a challenge getting the right spots in the right places at the right time," said Greig.

Finding a solution to the parking problem is a desirable outcome for Mefford, who says he was definitely in favor of the parking structure that was introduced in the University's Master Plan to replace the current East Lot.

The University's Master Plan, signed by former President, John Oblak, and unanimously approved by the neighbors, the Belmont Planning Commission, and the City Council, introduced at least a two-story parking structure in place of East Lot, among other plans. Extraneous elements in the Master Plan consisted of updating and expanding residences, a new Campus Center, Gym expansion, and Theatre expansion. The main commuter lot was also to be replaced with a landscaped lawn.

Greig says they plan on continuing with the master plan, but that as of now they are focusing on the academic side of things, and next year will focus on facilities. The parking lot plans are distant in the future, according to Greig as of now.

The Master Plan, initiated in 1997, was supposed to be commenced in its construction in 2002 and entirely completed by 2015. However, this will definitely not be the case.

According to Assistant to the Dean, Minh Vu, there have been "certain unforeseen issues" that have arisen since formation of the plan. Also, both Vu and Mefford agree that funding has proved to be an immense obstacle in continuing with the plan as well.

For now, the students, faculty, and staff, are stuck waiting yet again for funding in order to improve one of the University's aspects.