Did you know it’s harder to find parking on campus than it is to find the love of your life on Tinder?
These wise words came in the dreaded Large Event on Campus email from, head of Parking Services on campus and recent Yik Yak idol Clint Newton. Newton has been at the head of the drama surrounding the lack of parking on campus in the only parking garage when the University Center (UC) has large external events, though he is not responsible for scheduling said events.
Parking is the most common complaint when asking Colorado Mesa University (CMU) students about the school’s shortcomings. Now a senior, I have even written multiple articles about the subject since I was a freshman. Parking is the most limited resource on campus.
The problem has been worse since they keep constructing buildings over the current parking lots. The new theater and the back-half of the Tim Foster Field House were both built on old parking lots.
At the beginning of the year when asked about parking, President Marshall said to ride a bike instead. However, bike theft is another issue on campus. Two weeks after Marshall’s statement, my friend’s bike was stolen.
After limited resources and bad advice, and now the tauntings of the head of parking services, CMU does not care about the pressing issue of lack of parking on campus. This is especially disheartening since CMU raised the prices of parking passes this year.
I paid $160 for a commuter spot on campus. Luckily I have a 9 am class which means getting here at 8 am for parking. Any later than that and parking is gone, and this is on a good day. When we have large events on campus in the UC ballroom, parking is never guaranteed.
Recently, they have started coning off specific spots for the attendees of these large events, which is especially discouraging…
As CMU is one of three large event spaces in Grand Junction, the UC ballroom sees all kinds of events. Weddings, quinceaneras, prom and business conferences, CMU has the event space for you. Imagine getting married in the UC and all the college kids despise you and your family because you took all the parking and made them late to class. Newton would find that hilarious.
It’s not just students. Staff and faculty are encountering the same issues. I have had teachers be late to class because of the lack of parking during large events.
Sadly, I am out of solutions. I have no recommendations or ideas. I don’t have hope that anyone who matters will read this article. After three years here at CMU, I know the school doesn’t listen.
Parking is a small part of the inconveniences here on campus. The nurses are starving because there is a lack of food options on that far side of campus. The sprinkler system is a complete mess and waters the sidewalks more than the grass. I haven’t heard of a dorm that’s never encountered a bad plumbing problem or an elevator that always works.
Even though CMU is riddled with these first world problems, I can say after the depressing end to this parking opinion that there might be some hope. I pray that I’m wrong and that The Criterion has some small effect on the school, as the voice of the people.
I hope that our article makes people smile when a club or person is recognized for all their hard work in News, Art and Life, Sports and Opinions.
I hope that long after I graduate that the school announces a new parking garage. The sprinklers get fixed, the automatic doors in Houston work again and we have safe theft prevention bike racks.
I hope there is change and parking.
