Independent Student Newspaper of UW Oshkosh Campuses

The Advance-Titan

Independent Student Newspaper of UW Oshkosh Campuses

The Advance-Titan

Independent Student Newspaper of UW Oshkosh Campuses

The Advance-Titan

Campus parking causes concern


UW Oshkosh parking has become an inconvenient task for commuters, according to students.
UWO student and commuter Amanda Young said she starts her mornings strolling the campus lots, hoping to track down an open parking spot.
“I come in on Algoma first and drive past the Heating Plant slowly; if I don’t see a spot I pull in the next parking lot or the side parking by Sage,” Young said. “I don’t even bother pulling into Sage because the lot behind it and the Kolf lot are usually full.”
Young said she has to exhaust every option some mornings, surveying every lot down High Avenue for an open space to park.
“I hit all of the lots on that side of campus,” Young said.
Young said her extensive morning search for parking spots on campus could be due to the limited availability of parking for commuter students.
According to information obtained by an open records request, UWO has approximately 3,400 parking spots on campus with only 1,412 of those spots available for commuter students with a permit.
There are also approximately 7,315 undergraduate students at UWO residing off campus this semester, and some students say it can be difficult to locate an open parking spot in busier hours of the school day.
Young said she has struggled to find parking near her classes even with a commuter pass.
“Once I had to park out behind Blackhawk,” Young said. “It was, I think, a 10 minute walk and I was literally sprinting to class because I was late.”
Young said if she had to resort to parking as far away as Blackhawk again, she doesn’t think the hassle would be worth it.
“I would almost debate skipping class,” Young said.
The Oshkosh Student Association recently conducted a parking survey. Parking and Transportation Services Director Benjamin Richardson said the results of the survey were inaccurate and feedback on UWO parking is generally more positive.
Richardson said students should be able to find available parking with the numerous lots on campus.
“I always suggest looking on the first level of the parking ramp,” Richardson said. “Students with commuter permits can park there and it is rarely full.”
Young said she would rather park in another distant lot than pay by the hour to park in the High Avenue ramp.
“I refuse to pay more on top of already buying a parking pass,” Young said. “Save your $2.”
Young said she agrees and commuter students will be out of luck if they aren’t able to beat the morning rush.
“If you aren’t here before 9:45 a.m., don’t even bother trying to park because it’s going to be full,” Young said.
“I refuse to pay more on top of already buying a parking pass,” Young said. “Save your $2.”
Young said she agrees and commuter students will be out of luck if they aren’t able to beat the morning rush.
“If you aren’t here before 9:45 a.m., don’t even bother trying to park because it’s going to be full,” Young said.

 

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