When most students first start school at RWC, they’re excited to be able to sleep in, leave their house 20 minutes before class starts, and be amazingly on time. Unfortunately that big perk ended at the beginning of this Fall Quarter. If a student has class anytime from nine in the morning to one in the afternoon, then I wish them luck scouting out a good parking space. Finding a decent space to park at RWC is like fighting someone for a pump at a busy gas station; it’s stressful and annoying but must be done.
The major issue surrounding parking is having enough space available for students and employees during peak hours. Building and Grounds Committee Chairman, Professor Frank Wray of Biology, is aware of the problem. “If RWC is to grow, the parking will need to be expanded,” he said. “The master building plan at RWC has provisions for more lots, but that would cut down more of the beautiful woodland that surrounds the college. There is also a consideration of building a parking garage, which would take up less space but would cost at least five times more per parking stall.”
Would students be willing to pay an increase in fees for a parking garage? Freshman Kyle Morris shuns the thought. “Heck no!” he said. “I pay enough money for books, fees, and tuition, to name the least. What are they trying to do to us?”
Sophmore Karyn Toth looks at the situation in another light. “I don’t have any problems finding parking,” she claimed. “I almost always have an upfront space. The only issue I have is the time it takes to leave the parking lot. Now that’s another story.”
Regardless of the parking garage there is the issue of price in general. The school must pay for maintenance costs and focus on paying off debt towards the large new parking lot on the west of campus. Because of this, it is speculated that there will be an increase in parking fees for both faculty and students.
There is no need to shriek and gasp just yet, however, for the Building and Grounds Committee currently has a subcommittee researching the issue of cost. The Committee is expected to make a recommendation to the Dean by the later weeks of this quarter or the beginning of Winter Quarter, according to Professor Wray.
The current plan of action calls for more parking to be added southwest of Muntz Hall. “A lot of the second growth forest would be knocked down to accommodate this parking,” Wray said. “It is not clear where a parking garage would be located. However, current enrollment suggests there should be plenty of parking available. Many students still don’t realize that there is the relatively new parking lot to the west that is rarely full. Of course they will have a longer walk to class but maybe only two minutes longer. So parking shouldn’t be a hassle if it is used effectively.”
In the meantime, students who would like to voice opinions on the issue can do so by contacting Student Government Representative Kelly Tanis by email at .