Summer seems to be the time for change at Ball State University. Some of the changes, such as the various construction projects aimed at bettering the university, are announced with as much hype and fanfare as possible. Other, less desirable changes can come with little or no publicity and surprise everyone, like the increase in parking meter costs across campus.
Parking services should have made everyone on campus aware of when the higher meter costs would go into effect and why it was necessary instead of increasing the price on what seems to be a whim.
No one wants to be forced to pay more for parking, especially when Parking Services doesn't give any justification for increasing prices. People will always complain, but it would have been easier to take the hit to the wallet or purse if the extra money was going to a worthwhile cause. For all students know, the additional funds are going toward finding new and more inventive ways to squeeze more money out of the strained parking situation on campus.
University officials play a dual role when considering funding for various projects at Ball State. Obviously, the biggest concern is finding an appropriate source of money and planning how to get it. After that, the most important responsibility officials have is to inform people of any changes that will occur because of the quest for money - especially when fees or costs increase.
It would have been easy to notify people about the increased costs. Ball State students are no stranger to campus-wide e-mails that ensure all sorts of important - and not so important - information gets to everyone. Parking Services should have utilized the e-mail system or another effective way to announce the change so people wouldn't be taken by surprise.
At this point, it's not clear why Parking Services officials decided to increase parking meter costs in some of the lots on campus. Whatever the reason, the process by which the increases were put into effect leaves room for major problems. Students who are in a rush could face a $10 or $20 fine if they assume all meters are the same price they used to be.
Parking Services' popularity on campus was questionable in the first place. With the unannounced parking meter cost increase, the animosity some students feel toward the office will only get worse.
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