RE: “Staff don’t need parking at UCC”
Today I picked up my first copy of oMega, the student newspaper at the University College of the Cariboo Thompson Rivers University (TRU). The first thing I read was the silliest thing I’ve read anywhere before. It wasn’t an article, it was an editorial written in response to a recent article featuring congested parking lots and students being towed when parking in reserved staff spaces. I just couldn’t resist sharing it with you; forgive me for indulging on low-hanging fruit.
“The staff email is a hotbed of debate and advice on how to stop the evil students from illegally parking in the staff designated parking lots, including towing students after just a warning… Possibly we could follow the example of U of C and have no reserved parking for staff at all. Or perhaps the staff could organize a carpooling system… As far as towing students after one warning, don’t you think that this is a bit excessive for a starving student?”
“Evil” students? “Just” a warning? Huh??
From sea to shining sea, one can park in any parking space in Canada designated by the private owner/manager of such property to be reserved for staff, and rightfully expect to promptly be towed. The fact that signs at the entrance to such lots are well placed and easily readable. Some spaces are located in a larger lot and are easily identified by signs that say: “Reserved for staff – 24 hours – Unauthorized vehicles will be towed.” Anyone who gets “just” a warning should count their lucky stars that someone didn’t just tow them with indifference.
Don’t you think car insurance is a bit excessive for a starving student? What about gas—shouldn’t that be free too? Really it’s the staff and instructors at the university that should be grateful that all us starving students are ensuring them jobs, keeping them busy with marking our important papers and assignments.
The real question that begs to be asked is what was the point of such a letter—what it’s author to achieve? Is he attempting to lambaste the faculty for not carpooling? Is he just unhappy that he had been towed for parking in a staff lot?
Perhaps I’m just feeling extra cynical because I expect more from my fellow students. So much for a hotbed of political thought. There’s some pretty interesting and positive things being worked on by students, but parking issues are not on the list. Note to fellow students: getting towed for parking in a reserved spot is not controversial. This isn’t rocket science.
I must say in my third week in, University is shaping up to be an interesting experience.