May I intrude on your valuable space?

There is a more effective approach to parking and driving on campus than Professor Wheeler’s (11/9/1998) plea to take permits from freshmen and sophomores: Eliminate faculty/staff access to on-campus parking permits, and make them commute by bus.

Freshman hold only 2,000 parking permits, while faculty/staff members hold 6,500.  Furthermore, faculty members not only consume the most parking on campus, they also have the closest and most convenient parking.  

For some time, students have clamored for the closing of interior University streets for safety.  But, selfish, short-sighted faculty members oppose closing these dangerous streets.  Closing interior streets to car traffic will save lives, but it will also force faculty to give up their precious parking.

So, I too agree with Professor Wheeler that President Adams should take the lead for positive social change, but in a different and less hypocritical fashion: Eliminate faculty/staff access to on-campus parking permits.  The reduction of 6,500 faculty and staff drivers will make the busses more efficient.  Then, stick professors on busses at the commuter parking lots and let them ride to school with the students.  

On the bus, faculty members would have a wonderful opportunity to interact with students, the consumers who pay their salaries.  

Regards,
Chris Hoofnagle
Chair, SGA-EAC