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Parking for campus residents hard to come by
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If there is one issue that continually rears its ugly head at
Boise State University year after year, it’s the parking
situation. This year promises to be no different.
Due to the construction on campus, some parking spaces have been
displaced in order to store materials needed by contractors. During
game days, Driscoll and Chaffee Hall residents are being asked to
move their vehicles by 7 p.m. the day before. Residents are being
asked to park, for free, in other parking structures across
campus.
To add to the already cramped parking situation, construction of
the new residence halls does not include plans to build new parking
to accommodate future residence.
Nathan Holton and Andrew Chu have founded a new student
organization, the Campus Parking Alliance. They hope the new
organization will be a forum for students to voice their concerns
over parking. “We want to improve it for the entire
university,” Holton said.
Both Chu and Holton are concerned that no new parking has been
built for the new residence halls. No solid plans on how to deal
with new residence hall traffic have been made, Chu said.
Jared Everett, Director of Parking and Transportation, confirms
no parking is being built for the new residence halls. A new
building creates more need for parking, but creates less space for
parking Everett said. “This will displease some students. We
understand both sides of the situation, but how would students feel
if the student services building wasn’t built because it took
up parking space?” Everett said.
Six days out of this year, residents of Driscoll and Chaffee
Halls are required to move their vehicles to either the Admissions
lot or the garage. Last year, 130 parking spaces were allocated for
residence parking. Because construction has taken up a portion of
the parking lot, there are now 360 cars competing for 130 spaces
during game day, Everett said.
Holton is concerned that young women walking across campus at
night may not feel safe.
Everett wants to be responsive to safety concerns. Parking has
two employees whose jobs are to escort people if they so desire.
“If you feel threatened, call security. Don’t be shy or
feel you’re inconveniencing somebody.” Everett
said.
On game day, those lots being vacated by residence hall students
are reserved for athletic department donors at the $350 level and
above.
“Parking is an important benefit for our donors,”
said Mark Urick, Assistant Director for the Bronco Athletic
Association. The number of donor permits exceeds the number of
parking spaces set aside, every space counts, Urick said.
This year, the Athletic association will raise over $1.3
million, which helps BSU pay for athletes’ scholarships.
Athletic donors are giving back to the larger Boise State community
via scholarships, Urick said. “Athletics pays for these kids
to go to school.”
Most of that money is raised through priority seating at home
football games. So, Urick said, in the grand scheme of things,
there is an element of compromise here and it’s certainly not
outrageous.
“We’re not insensitive to students at all,”
Urick said. “Six days out of the year for our athletic
department is not outrageous.”
Monica Price
News Reporter
The Arbiter
