Recently, The Rotunda conducted an unscientific survey of student opinion relating to parking with 86 respondents. Students were asked if there is enough parking at Longwood, if there is enough regulations for parking, if this was enough parking specifically for commuters, main campus residents and Lancer Park residents, as well as their thoughts on a student-based parking enforcement unit.
Out of the students surveyed, 83.9 percent of students said there is enough parking regulations and 77.9 percent felt there is enough parking enforcement as is.
“It’s very challenging for main campus students to find parking,” said Emily Kratzer, a liberal studies sophomore. "It’s especially frustrating living in the Landings and having to come back to campus for meetings at night and having nowhere near the building to park my car so I don’t have to walk home in the dark afterwards.”
Many students said parking enforcement was too strict.
“There is not enough parking at Longwood around campus,” said Kathryn Bates, a biology freshmen. “So if you need to leave your car for a bit in the wrong lot as long as it is not negatively effecting anyone (such as it’s the weekend or it’s night time) there should not be a problem with parking there.”
“I feel as though it is a little too strict, and the ticket prices are too high for some of the offenses,” said Megan Duregger, a liberal studies senior. “It is limited and not spread out equally enough.”
Some noted student complaints often focused on the person who violated the parking rules, not the group who the parking was designated for.
"As a student, I feel like you always hear about people complaining they got a ticket, and not that someone took a spot that they weren't supposed to park in,” said Maeleigh Ferlet, a senior nursing major.
Out of those surveyed, 16.3 percent said there was not enough enforcement and 5.8 percent said they were not sure or had mixed feelings.
“I feel that sometimes there is too much enforcement all at one time, and then no enforcement at other times,” said Mallory Gallagher, a communication studies and disorders sophomore. “The parking lots are inconvenient for students and the lots fill up fast.”
Students were much more divided on the question about whether there is enough commuter parking, with 66.3 percent answering no, 27.9 percent answering yes and 5.8 percent not sure.
“Being a commuter, it’s frustrating that I have trouble parking in the morning because of students who park in commuter lots without paying for the parking pass,” said Suzanne Sauter, a junior communications major.
“I sometimes spend nearly 30 minutes searching for a commuter parking spot,” said Collan Hilifiger, a communication studies junior. “As I am looking, I come across many students without commuter parking passes.”
Over two-thirds of students reported negative feelings about a student parking enforcement unit, with 67.4 percent reporting negative views. Some disagreed with students enforcing parking regulations on principle.
“I believe that LUPD alone is qualified alone to enforce parking regulations,” said Ben Lambert, a criminal justice junior. “By granting these students authority over others by allowing them to enforce parking, not only do the students in the division receive negative feelings from their peers, but students may see it as an inappropriate delegation of power, as the members only a week ago weren't qualified until they received a day (if that) of training and lectures.”
Others discussed concerns that student parking enforcement officers would face social consequences.
“The fact that they are now hiring students to do this job as well is ridiculous,” said Kelsey Brooks, a communications senior. “I feel that these students are going to be harassed and it is the worst decision.”
Another concern students noted was that students might favor their friends in their enforcement.
“Students will favor friends and relatives, it works in theory but I have doubts about it in practice,” said Marco Verdone, a political science senior.
There was also concern that students would take advantage of their position.
“Students that are ticketing might take advantage of their privilege and park wherever they want and since they are the ones giving out tickets,” said Alysha Knapp, a sophomore nursing major.
Of the students surveyed, 12.8 percent had mixed feelings, 8.1 had positive feelings, 7 percent did not know and 4.7 percent were neutral.
“I feel like this is a good idea, if LUPD does need assistance,” said Duregger. “The students should be trained appropriately though.”
Some students expressed that students could have a different perspective when enforcing parking.
“I think having students who have faced the parking issues themselves will be a positive,” Kratzer said.
In general, students said that the university needed more parking, that parking passes are costly and that they had noticed an increase in ticketing.
“Parking availability needs to be addressed, because there is an obvious lack of spaces,” said Duregger. “It also costs an incredible amount to buy a parking pass, and if you happen to get a ticket they are very expensive too."
