Students raise complaints over parking, university responds

USD students have raised their concerns with the lack of parking available both for on-campus and off-campus passes. 

Pete Jensen, the Director of the University Police Department and the University Police personnel, was appointed to manage the campus parking system.

Jensen said the main complaint they have received for parking this year is in the Brookman residence hall lot because there are more students living in Brookman this year.

“This year we have experienced some concerns regarding available parking for residents in Brookman due to increased occupancy, some rooms moving from singles to doubles,” Jensen said. “We are currently exploring several options to help remedy or improve the issue.  The timeline for addressing issues will depend on the solution.”

Josh Anderson, a senior political science and business administration double major and former Student Government Association vice president, served on the parking committee last year. He said students have talked to him about a wide variety of concerns.

“Mainly the biggest concern is ‘I can’t get close enough to the building as I want to be’,” Anderson said.

Anderson said although students are often unable to find spots close to the building they wish to park at, it doesn’t necessarily mean there are no spots available on campus.

“The A lots fill up really quickly and students show up for class and they are unable to find a spot in the lot they are looking for, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t a spot on campus for them,” he said.
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Matt Yetter, a junior studying political science, criminal justice, and history, is planning on voicing his concerns with the lack of parking by making a proposal to the parking committee to get rid of the A and B pass system and switch to a one pass system.

“I think that in short term is the best policy goal,” Yetter said. “Overall I think the best policy is to build more parking lots, but knowing USD that is not going to happen.”

Yetter said he hopes to have this proposal effective next semester.

Jensen said parking complaints are usually highest at the beginning of every school year.

“At the start of every new school year, we receive concerns and complaints regarding parking on campus, usually due to new students, faculty and staff learning the parking rules and regulations on campus,” he said. “All issues are investigated and possible changes or solutions are evaluated.”

Anderson said ideally the university would build more parking lots, but his concern is that it would not only not solve the problem but also make a new one.

“Students always point out that we need more parking and say, ‘You could add a parking lot here or there,’ but then you get rid of all the green space the university has,” Anderson said. “Personally I wouldn’t like to see all the greenery taken away because it really adds to the feeling of campus.”