Photo by Brooke Ayscue
By Brooke Ayscue
You’re running late to class, your backpack is already weighing you down, and only one thing stands between you and your seat: finding a parking spot.
You pull into campus with class starting in ten minutes and begin circling the lot. Every row is full, the clock is ticking, and you’re still looking for a spot.
With students returning to campus for this new semester, parking remains part of the daily routine for students balancing classes, work, sports, and everything else that happens on campus.
Alexandra Cortez-Cortez, a sophomore criminal justice major, shared their experience with parking at Peace.
“It’s pretty difficult to find parking on campus, especially Tuesday and Thursday because I come to campus a little early during the day. Monday, Wednesday, and Friday I have classes early,y so I find parking pretty easy,” said Cortez-Cortez.
The parking availability can depend on the time of day. Some students say they have to circle multiple times before they can find a parking spot.
Kate Prettyman, a first-year Biology and criminal justice major, shared their insight on the parking at Peace.
“I have to park on Delaware Street and like walk across the football. I’m just in Ross, so it’s not like a super far walk. I’m not like, but if I can, I always drive through the parking lots behind Davidson and Ross to see if there’s a spot. But it’s usually not. I usually have to park behind Delaway,” said Prettyman.
Parking affects not only the faculty, staff, and commuter students, but also students living on campus.
Aiden Woods, a first-year exercise and sport science major, shared their parking experience on campus.
“My experience with parking this semester has not been the greatest. I feel like there aren’t a lot of spots, especially the freshmen behind Ross, especially behind Davidson. I’m always having to park far away. I don’t particularly enjoy it,” said Woods.
But students aren’t the only ones dealing with this parking. Some faculty and staff find themselves searching for a parking spot before heading to work.
Katie Otis, a history professor, shared their insight on campus parking.
“I’ve noticed the main parking lot looks fuller this semester than in previous years, but I haven’t had trouble finding a spot. I arrive in the morning, which probably helps.”
As the semester continues, Parking availability remains one of those everyday challenges in college.
With both students and professors relying on limited parking around campus, finding an open space can be challenging during peak times.
For some, the only way to avoid searching for a spot is to get to campus early.