Page 6

February 16, 2009 (CAMPUS

PANTHER POST

UPEI parking starting to drive Prof crazy

By Jarrod Yeo Panther Post

Disappointment.

That’s the feeling UPEI professor David Buck said he felt when he discovered his reserved parking spot outside MacDougall Hall oc- cupied by another vehicle on Feb. 12.

This meant Buck had to go searching for a vacant spot which he found on the other side of campus behind the Classroom Centre. The cold rain and slippery walkways made the trek to his office difficult.

He said it wasn’t an isolated incident.

“It usually happens every day.”

Buck said the problem is at its worse when he leaves campus to go for lunch. Upon returning later in the afternoon, he’s come to ex- pect his spot to be taken.

“I know it’s a_ tempting spot and gets a lot of mixed use, but it’s also a matter of respect for regulations and consideration for others.”

Senior university officials including the president, vice- president, deans and depart- ment chairs have the option of reserving a spot in close proximity to their offices and classes. Where as a full- time student pays $82 for a parking pass for the year, a reserved spot costs faculty members $176 and entitles them to 24-hour, year-round access.

Despite this, it’s a problem that has been increasing, Buck said.

“As far as enforcement

goes, they hand out tickets and sometimes tow the ve- hicles, but it hasn’t seemed to deter. They can’t be ev- erywhere at once.”

Buck said that although there is talk of increasing the tickets from $10 to $20 for next fall, he thinks the real solution is to reconfigure UPEI’s parking lots.

“Ideally, we would have gated parking lots students could access with their stu- dents ID cards.”

Buck said despite the fre- quency of the problem, he hasn’t yet been late for class. “Through luck, I find another spot. That, and I’ve learned to modify my schedule, to leave earlier to accommo- date time I spend looking for a spot.”

David Buck says every day he drives to his designated parking spot only to find it

taken by another car, forcing him to find another space, sometimes at the other end of

campus. Yeo photo

What do die think of the public transit fee?

It’s good in princi- ple, but I think there

should be a way to .

opt out for those who can’t use it.

There’s people who live off cam- pus with cars who shouldn’t have to pay the fee.

Amalia Peripoli 4th year Psychology

Samantha Sharpe

Ist year Psychology

I live in George- town, I travel, I pay for parking. Why should I pay for a bus ll never take?

David Collins

I ins

I think it would be better spent if stu- dents were charged

$25 for printing instead of the bus.

SE Mohammed Altheiban 2nd year Business