The constant dissatisfactionover parking issues by students and faculty has not influenced the actions ofthe Southern University Office of Traffic and Parking. According to them, there are noproblems with the parking accommodations.
Authorities at SU do not see theneed for parking garages or any additional parking arrangements because thereare spaces around campus that students refuse to fill.
“There are over 2,000 parkingspaces by the Minidome that students don’t want to park in,” said EthelWarren-Smith, office coordinator for the Office of Traffic and Parking inUniversity Police Department.
Many students don’t like to parknear the Minidome because the distance from their classes seems so far.However, the Jag Train makes frequent stops near classes every ten minutes forstudents’ convenience.
There have been recent changesto accommodate commuters. The parking lot behind Pinchback Engineering Buildingwas originally made to house faculty and staff cars. Due to the overwhelming amount of students’ cars frequentlyfound in that parking lot, it has been made a commuter parking lot. Studentswith a commuter decal are allowed to park behind Pinchback with compliance thatthe first three rows are left for the faculty and staff.
“The parking lot gives extraspace for engineering and nursing students,” said Jonathan Greene, a seniorelectrical engineering major from Opelousas.
Students feel that parkingofficials are ignoring comments regarding the condition of the parking lot behindthe engineering building. Suggestions have been made to pave the parking lot,but officials don’t see the need.
”More gravel should be placed in the rear of the parking lotbecause when it rains it is merely impossible to get a parking spot that is notcovered in mud,” Greene said.
There have been numerousaccounts of students’ cars becoming stuck in the mud. Because of the conditionsof the contract with Southern University, tow trucks are not allowed to pullstudents’ cars out of the mud, leaving them to fend for themselves.
The dried mud creates dirt suchthat after a car passes through the parking lot it spreads dust everywhere.
In spite of all complaints fromcommuters who park in the lot, the Office of Traffic and Parking are notplanning on making any arrangements to solve any such problems.
Problems also exist in theparking lots near the residential halls in front of campus.
There have been numerouscomplaints from residents in Bethune Hall and Washington Hall, although effortssuch as the adding a rock parking lot have been made to alleviate thoseissues.
Although the parking lot infront of Bethune is reserved for its residents, other students who don’t residein Bethune constantly fill the parking lot. Non-residents of Bethune and Washingtonusually park in the parking lot to get closer to their classes and to visit theunion.
When students who are notresidents of Bethune or Washington park in the lot, the students who aredesignated for parking in that area are forced to park elsewhere. Due to the residents of Bethune andWashington being forced to park in other places that is not designated forthem, it leaves them open to tickets and towing offenses.
Tamika Scott, sophomore nursing majorfrom New Orleans, is just one of many Bethune residents who have beeninconvenienced from outside students parking in spaces that should otherwise beavailable to her.
”It is not fair that I get a ticket when someone who is notsuppose to parks in my spot,” Scott said.
Residents of Bethune feel thatif the police department sees one of them parked out of place they should checkthe parking lot in front of Bethune for students that shouldn’t be there. Freshman nursing major from NewOrleans, Aviance Martin, also agrees with the residents of Bethune.
In order to fix the problem ofthe parking lot in front of Bethune being constantly filled by non-residents,residents feel there should be police monitoring the cars entering the parkinglot. Residents also feel that thegates by the entrance and exit of the parking lot should be used; allowing theresidents to swipe their IDs whenever they want to enter.
”Something should be done to solve the problems,” Martinsaid.
Not only are there problems withthe parking accommodations in the front of the campus, but the residents of thedorms in the back of campus also have concerns.
”If you get to the back after a certain time, you won’t haveanywhere to park,” said Ashley Lewis, senior criminal justice major fromLaPlace.
House parents have problems with students parking in theirspots because there are not enough spots for the students. Officials from thehousing department feel that if one thing can be done to make sure studentspark in their own spots is to ticket and tow more. They believe if a studentreceives enough tickets, they will learn to park in their own spots. Mercedes Rutherford, house parent,agrees, but also sympathizes with students.
”I feel sorry for the students because when all of theirspots are filled they just take whatever is available,” Rutherford said.
In spite of complaints fromstudents and faculty around campus, no changes are being made regarding parkingaccommodations.
