The fall 2010 semester at the University of Arkansas has brought with it numerous parking issues. First of the all with the record number of students there is a lack of parking on campus, more importantly the 3800 freshman can be directly connected to the concern. Second, the Razorback Transit busses have experienced an increased number of riders which has contributed to the need for more busses.
This semester we have had record enrollment at the University of Arkansas with approximately 21,000 students on campus. This has led to some issues with a lack of parking. There are simply not enough parking spaces for everyone on campus. There are many options for student parking as there are several lots students may park in if they have a student permit. Lots 56, 44 (“The Pit”) are just a few lots that provide parking for students who commute or want the cheapest parking on campus. For example, lot 56 is the one of the largest student parking lots on campus. However, the University of Arkansas marching band takes up a large amount of space in this particular parking lot during the fall semester. Don’t get me wrong I know several students within the band and love to cheer for them every Saturday, but I believe there could be an alternative practice area for them. As a band member in high school I know that practice is important so I understand their need for the spot but a big section of lot 56 is designated just for the band. If the band were to practice somewhere else this would free up more parking for green passes. The band has so many other places where they could practice i.e. the practice field the football team uses, Razorback Stadium, or possibly even Fayetteville High School. If they were to practice somewhere else and open up that part of the parking lot for students it would help tremendously with the parking issues. Why did I buy a green student pass for parking but yet I have to go to the Union to park because I cannot find a space?
Another concern this semester has been overcrowding on the Razorback Transit busses. This is a source of transportation for many students and residents of Fayetteville, including myself. With the increased number of students there have simply not been enough busses to hold them all. They have been so crowded that people are standing in two rows down the aisle. People will often be so close to you that their backpack will hit you in the face. The green buses along with the blue bus are probably two of the most crowded ones. At the end of August the green bus had a total of 27,197 students that month who rode the green bus alone. The total number of students who rode the bus the month of August was 108,797. In August 2009 a total of 86,286 students rode the bus that month. Compared to this time last year we have already experienced an increase of 22,511 students riding the bus. And these numbers will likely continue as the university grows. A simple solution to this problem would be to just add more busses to the routes. We are a fortunate university that allows us to bring our cars to campus and even though we complain about the prices of parking compared to some schools it’s still cheaper.
Oh by the way this is Lauren Pinkerton who published the post about parking issues.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed the statistics provided in this argument. I especially enjoyed the statistics that told how many students were enrolled at the University of Arkansas and how many of these students used the Razorback Transit. One statistic I thought of that could have improved this argument was the comparison of how many students are enrolled on campus to the number of parking spots available. Another bright spot in the argument was the acknowledgment of the razorback band practicing in lot 56. I, along with many others, have noticed how much parking space is taken up for a brief amount of practice time throughout the day. Another strong point in the argument was the personal experience of the author. I do, however, feel that this could have been made more credible with more experiences from other students and maybe even faculty.
ReplyDeleteBryce Vaught
I liked this argument because the topic is an issue most students can relate to at the University. The author provided enough statistics and personal experience to give credibility to her argument. I also liked how the solution about the band was not completely one-sided, making her sound like she did not support the band, which is easy to do when arguing about a certain stance. Instead, she acknowledges her support of the band and sounds encouraging, while still making it a valid point to her argument.
ReplyDeleteAnna Parten
I agree with this article completely. The issues with parking on this campus were conveyed very well and the statistics backed it up nicely. I must admit that I laughed to myself when I read the option of the band practicing on one of the THREE university football fields...I think we all know that there is no way in hell that will ever be allowed!! Personally I didn't even buy a parking pass this year because I got tired of paying for a pass that I rarely ever got to use. I'd rather be late for class because I walked a few extra blocks than because I spend half an hour driving around the green lots looking for a spot, just to end up parking on the same block that I do now. A man told me this summer that he heard the statistic from one of the Deans that the University sells upwards of nine green passes for every green parking spot on campus; also, he said that they budget for a $1million profit from parking violations annually (i.e. meter/parking tickets)
ReplyDeleteJeff C.
Being a student, I agree with this article wholeheartedly. Your point is backed up with a bountiful amount of factual information, thus boosting your credibility.
ReplyDeleteOne angle you could of included within your story is the amount of money the university collects every year on parking fines. I'm sure I'm not the only one who has parked his car in an incorrect spot--long enough for my eyes to blink and have been rewarded a shiny new piece of paper on my windshield.
Maybe the university is in no hurry to add parking just so their parking Jedis can hunt us all down.
-Dan Pointer
I agree with this argument. I agree with the fact that the current transit system is not functional for the number of students that are in need of it. I have also seen many instances when the driver had to leave passengers at a bus stop because the bus is over-crowded.
ReplyDeleteI agree with this article big time. Your article is totally backed up with evidence and statistics. Parking at the U of A is not that great unless you feel like spending $600 for a parking garage spot for two semesters, not even including the summer!
ReplyDeleteI also think it would benefit you to talk about parking tickets. I have always blinked my eyes after parking in the wrong spot and got slapped in the face with a $45 ticket. That was super lame.
One thing I might change would be the last statement. It ends your article very abruptly and it doesn't go very well with the rest of the article. Other than that, it was really good.
-Katherine Anne
I agree that there is a parking shortage on the University of Arkansas campus. The statistics provided in this blog make that quite clear. I also appreciate the mention of the band using Lot 56 for practice. I and many of my classmates have been frustrated by the fact that the band continues to block off such a large section of that particular parking lot, even when the lot is routinely filled to capacity. The suggestions for other practice options for the U of A band were particularly effective.
ReplyDeleteHowever, there are some aspects of this argument that could be improved. First of all, there are quite a few grammatical errors that distract readers from the main argument. Second, there are a few potential arguments that were not discussed. For example, what effect has the new parking garage on Garland Street had on parking availability on campus? And has the increased student population been reflected by an increased number of parking tickets on campus? Finally, in order to give more credibility to the argument, the author could cite the source of the statistics mentioned, and he/she could also quote other students’ opinions to support his/her arguments.
--Melanie Kyles
The thing that makes this article so well written and really makes the article realistic is the statistics. The way you added the stats to the article made the reader think about the parking situation and realize how many people use it. Telling readers actual numbers and stats helps with this type of article know how many people attend the university and how many use parking is one thing to be added in the article. Telling us how many people rode the bus in August is the strong point of your argument backing up your opinions with actual facts and numbers helps tie the whole argument together. The argument with the band is good, but having the band practice in some other location would solve the problem. The only thing is that the next problem would be to find a place to practice. This was a well written article that provided personal examples and many stats to back up the point.
ReplyDeleteKemer Quirk
I completely agree that parking on this campus is just insane. I really don't think that it is a very well thought out process. I do like how you agued this point, especially by giving examples of how it could be changed. Even though there is no way that the band would be able to practice there, it would make sense. Though getting a little away from the subject, the band should have their own seperate place to park, then there would be no problem and we could have that area for parking. This was a very well written article, you gave good examples with stats that were great to know and came up with a good solution. Great job, very nice article.
ReplyDeletevictoria Neubert