Is the parking problem at Ball State rooted in misguided prioritizing?
Many freshmen keep a car on campus, while the majority of college campuses around the country do not allow freshmen cars at all.
The solution to the problem isn't a parking garage either. The McKinley Parking Structure, which will be paid for with revenue from increased fines and permit fees, isn't student-friendly.
In fact, the new parking structure will only have 600 spaces. The first floor will be metered, while the rest will be red-tagged, or "restricted."
In theory, students can buy red tags and park in the structure. That is, if they have three times the money a commuter pass would cost, along with the wherewithal to get the red tags before the first-come, first-served permits are snapped up by faculty and administrators, as has been the annual trend.
The other option, commuter vehicle registration, will jump from $40 to $60 in fall 2004 and then $5 per year through 2007. However, commuter parking space will not increase -- but it could, if freshmen vehicles were disallowed.
To help solve the parking problem, Ball State needs much more than 600 additional spaces -- or fewer cars.
When one mentions fewer cars, the parking priority comes into play. Faculty, staff and administration come first, while graduate students and upper classmen follow. This leaves freshmen out.
Freshmen might be inconvenienced, but they'll be trading one immobile year to prevent three more years of frustration.
This would leave the stadium lot virtually empty, and though few commuters would enjoy parking out there, at least it's parking. Shuttle bus service could be increased to accommodate the change.
So what's wrong with starting there?
In 2001-2002, Ball State collected $1.02 million in parking fees and permits, while billing another $479,526 in violations. Reducing the number of vehicles would reduce the amount of revenue.
And that, of course, would keep a certain faculty and administration-dominated parking structure from existing.
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
