Dear Editor,
It’s come to my attention that the RVs that are in the South lot are severely interfering with Park and Ride commuters the Friday before game day.
For whatever reason, the RVs are allowed to park their vehicles starting Thursday night, two days ahead of the football game. This in turn leaves the lot significantly sectioned off on Friday morning while a large majority of students still have class, some with quizzes and tests.
While I am in favor of letting RVs park here, I disagree with the initial time in which they are allowed to park for the weekend.
Thursday afternoon is simply too far in advance.
In addition, it is crippling the efficiency of the Park and Ride OUT Bus drivers. It’s only been once so far this school year, but after waiting before classes to get to campus and after classes to go home, I’ve waited an additional 50 minutes in total for a bus.
Maybe this is because the buses cannot weave in and out through the difficult paths they must take to get around the RV boundaries, and so they eventually end up going back and forth together instead of in turns.
All of this could be managed more efficiently – as Park and Ride is intended to be – if the RVs were granted access starting around 3-4 p.m. on Friday afternoon. The general public chooses to tailgate for the majority of Saturday, not the full Friday (or even Thursday) prior to the game.
To make sure students move their cars by the time RVs begin to move in, an email should be sent out before the new rule is enacted.
I do not see this as an extensive request, especially when time-sensitive issues for students are at stake, such as: tests, deadlines, meetings or even going to work.
Yes, one could arrive earlier to ensure 1 of the 100 parking spots left available, but it’s unfair to ask that students arrive an hour early when they paid for a Park and Ride pass over a Commuter pass specifically to avoid that.
Please make sure this issue is made known to someone who can help with this awkward situation.
I’d like to think that students (potential donors and alumni) who pay thousands in tuition are considered first over RV tailgaters who, I’m sure, pay a small fee and spend their three-day tailgate waving their confederate flags all over the South lot where there should always be easy access to campus for students.
Best,
Henry Harris
