LETTER TO THE EDITOR

August 27, 2007

Dear Sir or Madam:

I am so upset. I can’t think straight. This has become such a personal thing with me that I had to sit down and write you about how I feel.  Anyone can see how awful the parking situation on campus is for us students. My high school counselor from home told me all about this before I ever arrived on campus last fall.  My fraternity brothers have had the same rotten parking experiences.  So does everyone.

Yesterday, I tried to park in the student lot at 9:50 a.m., just before my research methods class. There was not one parking spot left. Not one! My professor was getting out of her car, and it was parked in a student space. Faculty aren't parked in the spots designated for faculty cars at the middle of the lot.

I was lucky. A miracle happened. Out of nowhere a parking space opened up, and I was able to get to class on time. That will never happen again, I’m sure.

I decided to do a study.  I told people that I was having parking problems, and I wanted to do a study to prove once and for all that faculty cars are the real problem in the parking lot.  I asked them to help me.  So, I interviewed 30 other students. 10 of them or 33% had experienced a wait of 5 or more minutes to find a parking spot in that lot. Five of them or 25% had been late to class as a result.  A fellow student in my methods class did a study, too.  She came to the same conclusions.

The administration should ticket faculty members who park in spots meant for students. It isn't fair and something should be done.  This will solve the problem.  Trust me.  

Sincerely,

J. Student