Norwich suffers from lack of parking

By Steven Chambers
Norwich Guidon Staff Writer

For Katelyn Drummey, 19, a sophomore computer science major from Boston, Mass., trying to find a parking place on campus is a major challenge.

"The parking on campus is out of control. The parking on campus is out of control," she said. "It's mostly due to the number of spaces on campus."

According to Chief of Security Michael Abraham, this year's parking problem is the number of cars.

Because 474 resident students have registered their vehicles with the security office, parking issues become compounded for the 216 commuter students. The total of 690 student vehicles registered to park on campus are facing cramped parking lots.

According to Chief Michael Abraham, this represents a 20 percent increase from last year.

David Magida, Norwich University's Chief Administrative Officer, said that plans, both long and short term, for solving the parking issues on campus will be undergoing review by the board of trustees as part of an updated facilities master plan.

"One of the major issues being addressed in the update is parking on campus," Magida said. "The university needs more parking and we are working diligently to solve the problem."

Several short term solutions, which are already underway, concern currently pending reports from civil engineers concerning their level of involvement, Magida said, adding that he is hopeful to have some progress before the end of the current academic year.

Longer term plans, which might not come to fruition for several years, will be included in the facility master plan update.

"We're looking at all options, including a parking garage," Magida said. "In either case, the university needs more parking for its commuters, faculty, and staff."

Magida also said that university security was "working diligently" to keep students from parking where they are not supposed to.

According to Abraham, the lower two lots are reserved for resident students only. Commuters students are permitted to park in the Plumley Armory lot or in the lot on route 12 across from the science complex.

"The Kreitzberg arena lot is available for overfull parking," Abraham said. "Students cannot park in the faculty/staff lots at anytime and students who do choose to park in these spots are subject to being towed."

Some students have complained that parking fines on campus are too high, especially for college students, who are traditionally short on funds.

"I don't think they need to give us a fine on the first time as much as we pay to park here," said Timothy Shedd, 20, a sophomore engineering major from Hardwick, Vt.

Abraham contends that the new policy on fines is more equitable than in years prior.

"In years past, security would give violators $5 to $10 fines for some offenses and up to $75 fines for others," Abraham said. "This year they will be giving out straight $25 fines to all violators, whether they be faculty or student."

Abraham said that Security is taking every step possible to accommodate student and faculty's parking needs.

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