When was the last time you heard someone complain about parking? It was probably five minutes ago.
While some students say that there are not enough parking spots on campus, others say that Public Safety has not been ticketing when students’ cars are parked in lots where they are not permitted.
“Historically, the first few and the last few weeks are the most difficult,” said Mary Ann DeMasi, parking operations assistant for Public Safety.
The first few weeks of school are typically when students are transporting their belongings back and forth and attempting to settle into their new homes. Students often park in spots they normally would not.
DeMasi said that there are hopes that after October, things should settle down.
A recent campus announcement e-mail sent to students urged them to register their cars. He said that many have yet to do so.
The e-mail informed students that they either need to have their vehicle registered or removed from campus.
Many students say the parking problem mainly applies to off-campus students and village residents.
“It’s really hard,” said village resident Matt Weiner ’06. “I see kids parking down here all the time who aren’t residents.”
A Sept. 1 letter from the Office of the Dean of Students said that commuter students were able to park in the Quick Center lot, it is not true any longer.
However, the village complex still has the privilege of parking in the Quick Center lot. That is the overflow lot for that area.
“The Bannow parking lot is always packed, the Quick Center lot is no longer allowed for commuter and off-campus students. Parking spaces are no longer ideal,” said Bryan Bonilla ’07. “Yes, the lots are spread out, but the Bannow lot is overly used and the one near the Walsh Athletic Center is not being used enough.”
In the letter, Reed said there is always a tug-of-war game being played between the issue of convenient parking and the natural beauty of campus.
Reed urged students to walk, not drive, to their classes. He said that Fairfield is a walking campus, and parking in close proximity to students’ classes is not a right.
DeMasi ensured that there is enough parking. She said that if students are willing to walk a short distance or arrive on campus earlier than usual, there shouldn’t be a problem finding a parking spot.
But Christine Short ’06 feels something needs to be done.
“I drove around for 20 minutes looking for a parking spot near the Barone Campus Center one day,” she said. “I finally gave up and parked at the Quick Center where I was ticketed. I feel that 30 minutes should be adequate to arrive to find a spot.”
“People who are not permitted cannot park in the other spots and it has to stop,” she added.
Some students said they like walking around campus and do not expect parking spots.
“I walk everywhere because it’s my only form of exercise,” FUSA president Jessica DiBuono ’06 said.
Some students say they do not want the university to make more spots, even if the administrators were willing.
“I don’t know if there is sufficient parking, but I do not wish to see any more parking lots because they are an eyesore on campus,” said Will Yost ’06.
Hutchinson Williams ’08 said that the parking available at Fairfield is “adequate.”
“Either way parking is a privilege not a convenience so walking a little doesn’t bother me over all,” he said.
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