The college opened a new faculty and staff parking lot last week to help with parking congestion.
The new lot is located to the north off College Street between Park Street and West Street. Before the end of the semester, the parking lot south of W. Galloway Drive, at its intersection with West Street, will expand to accommodate the Searle Center. This lot will have reserved spots for Simpson residents.
“[The college] wants to be dynamic with everyone’s needs and accommodate students, staff, faculty, donors—everybody,” Director of Campus Security Bill Whorley said.
Once the workers finish paving the lots, campus will boast approximately 250 new spaces.
Whorley said there is need for an increase in parking because with 1,478 enrolled students—roughly 40 more than the fall semester of 2014—campus is more crowded than ever.
Chief Administrative Officer Rich Péwé attributed the tightness of parking to the campus’ generous vehicle registration policies.
“Most campuses have restrictions on parking. Most campuses have a fee. We have probably too many vehicles,” Péwé said. “There’s not a reason why anyone needs to drive from McIntyre, per say, but people do.”
Péwé said most parking changes for the 2015-’16 school year are geared to accommodate faculty and staff, and additional student parking is an issue for later.
“This year we’re really focusing on making sure there is enough space for faculty and staff to park in a lot,” Péwé said. “We aren’t creating spots on campus for resident student parking. There is some commuter parking, and that’s where we get in a crunch with construction.”
Senior Molly Benz commutes to campus for class.
“I do see there maybe being a problem parking this year, but I think there has always been a problem parking, but that’s not the end of the world,” Benz said. “Though in the winter it was almost impossible to find parking, it is a smaller campus so we do have less area to just use on parking.”
The Dow Center parking lot—just off Galloway Drive—will now be reserved exclusively for Dow Hotel guests and staff.
“When it comes to the Dow lot, students just want to park there, go to lunch, go to dinner, and then leave,” Whorley said. “The college needs to reserve those spots for [Center for Constructive Alternatives] guests, visitors, staff, and faculty.”
Additionally, security will repurpose the row of Kappa Kappa Gamma spaces along the north side of the sorority house for staff parking.
Kappa Kappa Gamma House Director senior Katie Burke is not worried about the reduction of parking spots.
“[The spaces] are only staff parking from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.,” Burke said. “Plus, we haven’t really had any problems with house space yet. Security has been great about it. I know the college just really wants to accommodate people.”
When it comes to the changing lots on campus and parking rules, Whorley recommends students are aware of their surroundings.
“We don’t overpopulate signs,” Whorley said. “It’s not like hide and seek, but if you’re about to park somewhere and you’re not sure if it’s allowed, just look around. We don’t like giving tickets.”
Security has noticed a slight increase in ticketing so far this year, though Whorley asserts that as more students register their vehicles, the influx in tickets will subside.
Benz said she is hopeful for the parking situation this year.
“This year I haven’t had as many problems parking,” Benz said. “I think that also has a lot to do with it being so nice outside.”
