By Kirsten Mahon/tr news editor
TR students have expressed their frustration with campus parking because they have been turned away during the busiest times because of lack of spaces.
“We have just over 800 spaces in the garage, and we have 8,000 students,” said Tahita Fulkerson, TR Campus president. “That means that there will be times when students cannot park in the garage.”
TR Campus has unique parking not only because it is shared among TCC faculty, students and RadioShack employees but also because of the location. Downtown parking garages normally have less space than other campus parking.
Also, TR’s overflow parking is located off-campus. This is a problem for disabled students who may not be able to walk the distance.
Mark Warneke, TR student government association vice president, said some students go back home if the garage is full.
Students have asked to park in open faculty spaces, but the idea has not been tried.
“It would be possible for students to share spaces with faculty, but most days faculty parking is also full,” Fulkerson said.
During the employee charitable giving campaign, Fulkerson raffled off her parking spot for a $5 donation to a scholarship fund. Students who donated had their names entered into a drawing. The winner was given Fulkerson’s spot until May 12. Unfortunately, the winner did not have a car but gave the spot to another student.
Student development services vice president Adrian Rodriguez said TR students are lucky to have free parking, even if it’s limited. Most commuter campuses have no parking available, and others have parking meters for any available spaces.
“Parking is like the No. 1 national issue because students, faculty and staff always believe that to be an issue,” he said. “The wonderful thing about TR is that we have covered, free parking.”
In recent student government meetings, students have discussed sharing faculty parking or using RadioShack’s parking spots as well, but even the idea of asking is a sore subject.
“We don’t want to just rip the Band-Aid off,” said Chani Neff, TR Student Government Association president.
She said it’s important for the SGA to build a solid relationship with faculty and staff so they can work together rather than have two sides warring when it comes to something this touchy.
Warneke is ready and willing to rip the Band-Aid off if he believes a situation warrants it.
“Parking will be taken care of even if I get kicked out of school,” he said.
In a Nov. 6 SGA meeting Bryan Stewart, TR vice president of academic affairs, began bridging the gap between students and faculty.
The association brought up the parking issues as well as TR cafeteria hours, which many students agree should be extended, and TR class size concerns as enrollment will continue to go up. Stewart and the association agreed to collaborate with ideas to relieve these situations.
If students wish to voice their opinions on the TR Campus parking issue, or if they have ideas to alleviate the situation, they are welcome to visit Eddie Brassart, student development associate, in TRTR 1503C to get in touch with the Student Government Association.
