Lately, I’ve reflected a lot on my college career thus far. Just the other day, I wondered how long I’ve spent on campus just searching for a parking spot.
Like many, if not all of you, I’ve had to deal with the battle that is parking at Ferris State University. I’ve been ticketed, both justly and wrongfully, and was late to a class because of it, or have had to park away from where I needed to be. It’s not fun nor have I enjoyed it.
Parking is everyone’s favorite inconvenience at a university, not just Ferris. I read a Michigan Daily article about their trials and tribulations with parking at a school with 42,896 more students than us. I can’t even begin to imagine what they’ve got going on.
I don’t think there’s a single person at Ferris that hasn’t complained about the parking at this university. Hell, I don’t think there’s a single person at a university who hasn’t complained about its parking in some form or another. My entire freshman year was spent complaining about half of the lot outside of Hallisy being closed, which had me parking in Lot 28 by McDonald’s.
I get it. I do. Parking is incredibly frustrating when it should be such an easy thing. We’ve paid a good chunk of change to park on campus. Now there’s no space. You’ve probably run your luck, just as I have, and parked in a lot you’re not supposed to. You’ve either felt the luckiest you ever had not being ticketed or the angriest you’ve been in a bit because you were.
Everyone and their brother at this university has an opinion on parking and the people who work for the department. At the Torch, we’ve avoided people just lodging their next complaint in the form of an opinion article. So, why do I get to break the unwritten rule?
Well, it was just the other day when I was circling the William’s Auditorium lot just hoping for someone, anyone to leave so I could swoop in and steal the spot. As I contemplated sneaking in and stealing a spot from a line of parking-hungry students, I crept a little too close to the exiting car. During their exit, they gave me a dirty look, and I’m sure I cussed them out under my breath.
Genuinely, why did I do that? Why do I feel the need to hurl my creatively vulgar words at someone just leaving or trying to get a spot? Better yet, why is it a normal occurrence? It makes no sense for me to care. I can’t change it. I’m mad at some abstract idea of “more parking!” not being able to come to fruition.
Parking is a frustrating endeavor, yes. Getting ticketed and having to appease the university, which you’ve thrown another good chunk of change at, with more money is downright annoying, yes. But, what can the university do to fix it while you’re here?
Sure, let’s build a couple of new parking lots! Where? Something further away from campus? Everyone knows that the honey pot of parking is closer. What I’ve been failing to realize all these years is that there’s no quick fix to a parking issue. We cannot move heaven and earth to drop a new parking garage in the middle of campus when there are other, more important needs at hand.
If the trend of Ferris’ enrollment increasing continues to grow year after year, they’re gonna have to do something. But that’s not coming anytime soon.
Perhaps the mediocrity of parking here is just another preparation for what’s to come in life. Parking enforcers and not finding a spot to park are vicious realities of a larger city. It’s not going to get any better. So, to the underclassmen who think they’ve got the next complaint that’ll make the university open their eyes: it won’t.
Control the controllable while you’re at this university and with how you live your life. Parking isn’t one of them.