OPINION: For Parking Relief, Commuters May Need More SGA Representatives

 (Residential students in student government raising their hands for a poll. Source: YouTube.)

On Tuesday, student government took up a lengthy discussion about student parking. Throughout, members repeatedly voiced support for a new parking garage rather than new parking lots, citing a priority on reducing new parking lots' impact on the campus aesthetic, namely, its green space. Members also did so in the face of opposition to a parking garage solution, namely, that garages’ price tag may delay their arrival or be outright cost prohibitive. 

In other words, members seemed in no big hurry to deal with a parking shortage currently crunching students. Rather, their higher priority lie in preserving their appreciation of campus green space instead. 

As I posted on X last week, most student government members live on-campus. When I went to campus last week, I interviewed students for an upcoming blog post about their reactions to campus parking. I noticed most residential students I interviewed did not have strong feelings against the parking situation. It seemed that because most of these students walk to campus (or drive, though they are not supposed to) they did not feel the headache commuter students experience when having to search for a parking space each time they arrive to campus. In other words, residential students' concerns are on other things, but not parking. 

It appears to me that this residential student majority within student government prevails in the senate. It may be that student government’s delay, even its apparent apathy, may be the result of a different constituency than that of the majority commuter constituency dominating its representation. However, SGA inaction may also be due to the new assembly’s lack of knowledge about how to act as a parliament.

Regardless, it appears residential student priorities will prevail in student government because of the sentiments for green space over new parking members expressed in the discussion. Contrast this with commuter student and Senator for College of Education & Psychology Kyna Holman who said Tuesday, “I’m quite okay with [land clearing in Liberty Landing area] if that’s what needs to be done in order to ensure parking for commuters such as me.”

 I doubt the senate will do anything to address parking this semester given its slow-going speed, conflicting priorities and late date in the semester. At the same time, the situation reveals that if commuter students want SGA to advocate for their grievances, then they may need more representatives in student government. 

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X: @Jhescock12

Feature Image:  YouTube

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