Parking has been an issue all year at SUNY Rockland. With the coldest months of the winter still in full force, a parking spot close to the school entrance is a priority.
Balancing books, laptops, and thermoses of coffee is difficult enough without battling the frost, wind, and even snow.
"I have to bring a drum set to school every day and it really [stinks] having to bring it up from the Fieldhouse parking lot," said frustrated sophomore Eric Dicarlo. "It makes me want to fake an injury for handicap parking."
At certain times of the day, professors claim to smell the tension in the student parking lots. Students who attempt to hunt down spots in the Academic I and Technology Building parking lots are guaranteed a headache for the rest of the day.
Early birds claim that the mornings are the safest time to find parking in the largest parking lot in the back of campus.
"I don't have any problems because I'm here at 8 a.m. every day," said Meagan Nevins, Student Activities Board Chairperson.
Freshman Andrae Haye, however, is not that lucky. He struggles to find parking between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Haye tells Outlook that it is "pretty annoying" to have to chase down a spot before class.
Unless students arrive at school 10 to 20 minutes before their class begins, they should wear their sneakers and expect to walk quite a distance.
"Just about every day I almost see someone get hit by someone. It's ridiculous," says sophomore Ross Newton. "Plus, trying to find parking in general is near pointless unless you want to wait 30 minutes and [follow] someone to their spot."
Not only is student parking agitating, but it can also be dangerous when several dozen students, some of them beginner drivers, are scavenging for a few spots.
"I was sitting in my car with one spot open when one driver cut in front and [nearly] side-swiped me," Newton said. "Soon after, this other kid tried to pull in and almost t-boned me."
"Walking from the bottom lot to Academic I or Academic II takes forever. You might as well give me a football because I have to run the length of the field just to get to class every day," said another agitated student.
It is obvious that parking is a passionate topic to students, but what can be done? There are already four large parking lots open to students, not including the gravel behind the Fieldhouse where students in a hurry often go.
Students may have to get to school extra early so they can beat the rush for the "good spots" on campus.
Outlook Student Press > Features
Student Parking Problems Persist
Students are Battling the Cold, Wind, and Snow On the Long Walk from their Car to Class
Published: Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Updated: Wednesday, February 24, 2010 11:02
 "Photo: Demi Moore / Outlook Student Press")
Demi Moore / Outlook Student Press
The parking lot behind the Fieldhouse is packed and filled with cars, leaving no room for additional parking.
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2 comments
i feel no pity for u all and incase ur wanderign no snow piles anymore so
When exiting the west parking there is so much snow on either side when you try to pull out to the road, so it is difficult to see if there are cars coming when you try to exit. Especially if you have a low car. If you pull out far enough, so you are in the way for traffic, you are able to see a little better...
Just the other day I tried to peek past the snowpiles, or snow walls, without being to much in the way. Just as I think the coast is clear I pull out, just to realize there is a car coming that I simply could not see! I hit the gas to get out of the way. Luckily, nothing happened this time, but it was way to close. Is it really that hard to just remove some snow to make the wall of snow lower? Do we need an accident before anything is done? It will melt away soon, but it is such an unnecessary danger that could easily be avoided.