2008 Woodie Awards
Letters to the Editor
Issue date: 4/7/08 Section: Opinion
The last straw on parking
I write to voice my concerns regarding the recent removal by the Department of Transportation Services of several courier-parking-only spots on Chapel Drive, across from Marie Mount Hall.
I first attended the university in 1994. At that time, it seemed much easier to obtain a student parking permit, many more of the lots were open after 4 p.m., and most importantly, the muggings and robberies were just not happening.
I am a returning student and finishing my degree in the fall. Safety is always on my mind, and yet the parking options that are open to me are extremely far from where my classes are held. My night class on Monday dismisses at about 9:30. Those courier spots are coveted by the women in our class. In fact, the handicapped spots are the only ones that are empty all the time.
And now, two of the courier spots have been taken away for more handicapped parking, which I cannot understand. Furthermore, the unused meters with one-hour time limits are always vacant.
I drive down Chapel Drive and see so many unused, vacant parking spaces close to class.
It is infuriating to think that my tuition has gone up 40 percent in the past couple of years, and yet I am forced to walk long distances to park on an unsafe campus where students are getting mugged on a regular basis. I write this as an appeal to Transportation Services to make more, not fewer, spaces available to the tuition-paying commuters. Give us back our two courier spots, or make the meters free after 6:00 p.m. Help us get the quality out of the education for which we go into debt.
Courtney Poulos
Senior
Journalism
Return Art Attack to students
The problem with Art Attack is not the money. I don't think $5 is really a monetary issue for college students - we pay just as much or more to get into the Thirsty Turtle on a Friday night. The issue is how, year by year, this is becoming less and less of a "by the students, for the students event." What started off as a showcase of student art and music is now just another way for the university to get a quick buck out of us.
The students don't even have the opening spot on the bill, which is typically the winner of Battle for Art Attack. Instead of listening to music made by my peers, I will (or possibly, won't) be listening to Cobra Starship or some other B-list band. I think SEE needs to reevaluate the meaning of Art Attack and give the students their festival back. Focus on the immense talent at this university rather than whatever washed-up '90s act it can find.
Kenny Leftin
Senior
Computer science
Air Your Views
The Diamondback welcomes your comments. Address your letters or guest columns to the Opinion Desk at opinion@dbk.umd.edu. All letters and guest columns must be signed. Include your full name, year, major and day- and night-time phone numbers. Please limit letters to 300 words. Please limit guest columns to between 550 and 700 words.
Submission of a letter or guest column constitutes an exclusive, worldwide, transferable license to The Diamondback of the copyright in the material in any media. The Diamondback retains the right to edit submissions for content and length.
Letters can also be submitted online here.
I write to voice my concerns regarding the recent removal by the Department of Transportation Services of several courier-parking-only spots on Chapel Drive, across from Marie Mount Hall.
I first attended the university in 1994. At that time, it seemed much easier to obtain a student parking permit, many more of the lots were open after 4 p.m., and most importantly, the muggings and robberies were just not happening.
I am a returning student and finishing my degree in the fall. Safety is always on my mind, and yet the parking options that are open to me are extremely far from where my classes are held. My night class on Monday dismisses at about 9:30. Those courier spots are coveted by the women in our class. In fact, the handicapped spots are the only ones that are empty all the time.
And now, two of the courier spots have been taken away for more handicapped parking, which I cannot understand. Furthermore, the unused meters with one-hour time limits are always vacant.
I drive down Chapel Drive and see so many unused, vacant parking spaces close to class.
It is infuriating to think that my tuition has gone up 40 percent in the past couple of years, and yet I am forced to walk long distances to park on an unsafe campus where students are getting mugged on a regular basis. I write this as an appeal to Transportation Services to make more, not fewer, spaces available to the tuition-paying commuters. Give us back our two courier spots, or make the meters free after 6:00 p.m. Help us get the quality out of the education for which we go into debt.
Courtney Poulos
Senior
Journalism
Return Art Attack to students
The problem with Art Attack is not the money. I don't think $5 is really a monetary issue for college students - we pay just as much or more to get into the Thirsty Turtle on a Friday night. The issue is how, year by year, this is becoming less and less of a "by the students, for the students event." What started off as a showcase of student art and music is now just another way for the university to get a quick buck out of us.
The students don't even have the opening spot on the bill, which is typically the winner of Battle for Art Attack. Instead of listening to music made by my peers, I will (or possibly, won't) be listening to Cobra Starship or some other B-list band. I think SEE needs to reevaluate the meaning of Art Attack and give the students their festival back. Focus on the immense talent at this university rather than whatever washed-up '90s act it can find.
Kenny Leftin
Senior
Computer science
Air Your Views
The Diamondback welcomes your comments. Address your letters or guest columns to the Opinion Desk at opinion@dbk.umd.edu. All letters and guest columns must be signed. Include your full name, year, major and day- and night-time phone numbers. Please limit letters to 300 words. Please limit guest columns to between 550 and 700 words.
Submission of a letter or guest column constitutes an exclusive, worldwide, transferable license to The Diamondback of the copyright in the material in any media. The Diamondback retains the right to edit submissions for content and length.
Letters can also be submitted online here.
Submit a letter to the editor or post a comment below.
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 3
Shutup Courtney
posted 4/07/08 @ 5:05 AM EST
Courtney, maybe you should strap yourself in a wheelchair and see how easy it is to get around campus. You don't like walking around, and hell, that's your right. (Continued…)
Johnny Lawrence
posted 4/07/08 @ 11:54 AM EST
"Shutup" -
I may have some level of sympathy for your disability - but I will take none on your argument. Courtney did not say "Handicapped people should have to walk - that'll teach'em", or anything of the sort. (Continued…)
Chris
posted 4/07/08 @ 1:22 PM EST
Regardless of how you feel about Courtney's letter we all hate the parking meters here; that's a problem in itself. What the hell is a 28 minute meter? Who really goes somewhere for 28 minutes?
"I'm going to go pay another useless fine to DOTS, be back in 28 minutes!"
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