Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Parking on campus is always an issue, which is why I choose to ride the bus.
But there are rare occasions when I need to be on campus later than the buses run and I have to drive and park where I can pay a meter.
Usually, I have no trouble parking at the Ambler Student Recreation Fitness Center and paying a meter when I need to park on campus. Except, of course, on game days.
Last semester I needed to be on campus in the evening for a study session for one of my classes. I had forgotten there was a game that day and when I attempted to park at my usual meter I was sent looking for parking elsewhere.
I drove around for about half an hour and was turned away from every area where I attempted to leave my car.
After becoming increasingly frustrated and angry, I simply drove off campus and back to my apartment at 31st and Iowa.
I did not attend the study session (which would have benefited me) because parking prioritizes donors over KU students.
According to a Jan. 30 article in The Kansan, 2,343 parking spots are reserved for Williams Educational Fund donors on basketball home game days.
The Williams Fund is comprised of more than 4,200 members and generates more than $8 million annually, according to the KU Athletics Web site.
The Williams Fund helps KU Athletics remain one of the best programs in the nation and attracts high-class coaches and athletes to the University.
But because of those thousands of parking spots reserved for donors on game days, KU students are forced to park miles away from their destinations.
In The Kansan article, Donna Hultine, director of the KU parking department, said the $1 million generated from basketball games enabled the parking department to keep permit prices down.
Though the revenue generated is astounding, students should not have to sacrifice on game days or any other day.
Athletics are important to a college experience. The University’s athletic programs bring incredible athletes and scholars to Lawrence as well as make our University competitive with others in Kansas and across the Midwest. But academics should always be a priority.
Donors to the Williams Fund greatly aid the Athletics Department, and their donations are appreciated.
But students pay thousands of dollars in tuition, housing and campus fees.
We pay huge sums of money for a degree from the University of Kansas, and making sure all students attain and benefit from this degree should be the priority of all departments within the University.
KU students should not be forced to park miles away from campus on game days, or any other day for that matter. Ultimately, the success of students is more important than the success of a basketball team, and parking for students should be a priority for the University before parking for anyone else.
— Brown is a Wichita sophomore in journalism and political science.
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Comments
Brown: Students should be parking priority, even on game days
I'm not even a student any more and I completely agree. Monday through Friday all campus parking should give priority to students. If there is not enough parking to accomodate students AND athletics, there needs to be another solution, i.e. a parking garage. Some students can't always take classes during the day but they shouldn't have to worry about parking when they go to a night class.
Brown: Students should be parking priority, even on game days
Of course, Erin made no mention of the impossibility of even getting close to either Watson or Anschutz Library on game days, whether in the fall or winter. KUAC has always put themselves first, and education and research second. I'm glad that we have a chancellor who supports them (and I bet the next one will, too).
Brown: Students should be parking priority, even on game days
I completely agree. I had an 8PM film class on Tuesdays and parking was impossible. And walking a long distance alone on game nights isn't a good solution. Something has to be done.
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