Green or Grey?

The Environmental Society recently held a bake sale and public opinion poll about the Parking Lot 54 proposal. Nearly all the members of the university community who came to our bake sale were not informed about this issue at all. We explained to them both the growing need for parking space on this campus, and that our university has chosen to set a progressive example of a sustainable campus.

At the end of our bake sale, more than 110 members of the campus community asked for green space, while only 1 asked for a parking lot at the place in question. Many students have strongly called for multi-level parking spaces closer to campus than spread out parking lots so far away. They reasoned that the proposed parking lot would not be efficacious for a number of reasons:

1. Convenience:
Having to walk more than 330 meters (1080 feet) to get to that parking lot will be a huge inconvenience. Waiting for a shuttle to take you there is not comfortable, especially in bad weather. The shuttle service has a limited functioning period (not available in the evening and on the weekends).

2. Safety:
Walking to a parking lot that is so far away from campus increases the probability for crime (attacks). Students also expressed concern over the safety of their car and their belongings in the vehicle. Ensuring security at all times on these faraway parking lots will be a necessity, and thus an added expense for the university.

3. Weather:
Weather was a major concern expressed by some students.The extremes of weather (hail, freezing rain, strong winds, tornadoes) are not under the control of any human. To park a car so far from campus is a chance no student would want to take, unless left with no other option.

Seeing this list of important concerns voiced out by the university community when informed about this proposal, we ask for you to please consider beginning a fair discussion on this issue within the Presidents Sustainability Committee.
Vinodh Valluri
The Environmental Society
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