Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Parking

Parking lots are a great problem in the university of Michigan-Dearborn, especially in the Casl building. If you go to park between 9:20 am and 10:30 am you won't find a free space. The same thing happens in the afternoon and precisely between 4:30 pm and 5:50 pm. It seems like during each class period the parking lot is full, and that shows that this university has more students than its parking lot can handle.
I find a lot of problems parking. I go a half an hour early to find a parking space. Even though, I wait a long time, and I don't find one. I, then, go to park in the Library's parking lot, and there I park the last. So to go to a class or two, I have to spend two class periods searching for a space to park. Not only this, but I also have to walk a very long distance from a parking lot to another and cross more than one building in order to get to the class. Imagine the case in the winter time, during the cold days and nights, where sometimes the snow is not very well cleaned and walking a long distance might is ability for you to slip. And who can walk a half mile in the windy and snowy times.
In Winter 2007, I had to go to my Math 412, and that was in a very cold morning between 9:30 and 10:30. That morning I had my first test, and I came a half an hour early in order to park my car. I waited as well as other cars. Finally, somebody came out of the Casl building, and it was my turn to park. Suddenly, another came anxious to park. I waited for parked car to come out, and there a parking space for me. But no, the other car urged parking, and it had no right. But, what can I do. I called her and she did not want to listen. She turned her back and went to her class. But, I had to wait, and ten minutes have passed from my test's time. At last, another person came to the parking lot and wanted to get out. I followed him, and another car was first, waiting for this person. I wanted to do the same thing the other girl did to me, and take the car's first right to park, but I couldn't do it. Surprisingly, the car waiting was my friend from another class. I explained to her and she gave me her parking space to go finish my test.
On my way to the class and after 15 minutes late, I walked in the cold, and I was rushing to class. When I arrived, I was 15 minutes late to a 50 minutes class, and I was really pissed off. Under the stress of failing my test, I panicked. When I received the test, and while trying to solve for the math problems, the blood started to come out of my nose. It was a lot of blood that I couldn't handle with my napkins or makes me able to solve for my test. I asked my Professor for the permission to leave the class and try to clean up. The blood continued to come out even until after class. But my Professor was nice enough to give me a make up test for the following week. It was a pretty bad experience that I can't prevent it from happening another time, and due to the parking problem we have in the Casl building.
The same problem I have parking in the Social Sciences building. If you register for a class in the Science building, you have to park in the Social Sciences parking. In the Fall or Winter semesters, you have to walk a long distance to get to class, and don't ask if you are late to class or if your legs are tired from the pressure you put into them to get as fast as you can. Don't ask if you get sick from the cold breeze or wing that slaps your face thousands of time until you get inside that door. Don't blame us if they steal your parking space anxious, just like you, to find one.
It was my first semester in the university when I took a class in the Science building. I did not know where to park, assuming that the parking lot should be next to the building. Finally, I got to the Computer Wing, and it had a tiny parking lot. It said for Faculty members. I did not know what to do, so I asked the Security guy if I can park. He said yes, and that they are not very strict about parking there. From then on, I parked there. One day, I saw a ticket on my car. I went to the security building and I asked them to waive it, because I did not know that I shouldn't park there, as the officer told me I can. They wouldn't believe me, and the angry face women told to better go and pay it. I was really pissed. Imagine that first impression I had on that school.
Our university better find a solution to this problem. It has to provide more parking spaces to the increased number of students. Three big buildings can't share the same parking lot. I wonder if they see people fighting for the parking spaces. If they actually do, why can't they find a way to make their students comfortable going to school.

6 comments:

Colin LaVine said...

Oh, I agree! The parking can be atrocious sometimes. I have my Calc II class at 7:30 a.m. on every day but Wednesday. So I am able to pick any spot in the parking lot that I want. However, on Wednesdays I have to park a good 10 minutes from my class. I also agree with some drivers being very rude and taking any spot they can get.

Ian said...

I usually get to school early, so I can’t really relate to this problem, but it is something that I have heard a lot about. I can imagine that this problem will affect me later on, though. At any rate, I can see your point, that the parking situation is frustrating and especially bad during the winter months, I can imagine. I think that your story about the math test depicted the problem very well. I am amazed that people would just take your spot like that. I hope you did well on your make up test.

Vanessa said...

oh the parking lot! its so crazy everything one has to go through just to get a parking spot. i hate when people stalk you to take your spot after you leave. but yea ive came to the conclusion that now i dont even bother to find a close spot first one i see is the first one i take.

Allison12 said...

that's horrible. i don't like when people stalk me in the parking lot either for a spot, yet i find myself being a hypocrite and stalking other people

Unknown said...

I've never seen a college campus that didn't have parking issues. I know it seems like it can't get any worse, but it could be!

Potato_Baron3 said...

the stalking thing is irritating-generally i will sit in my car and lay down so they think I'm not leaving or I'll tell them I'm not leaving when they ask- once somebody blocked me leaving because they didn't want to let the other guy have the spot. I'm this close[] to living in a cave under the stairwell or something lol