A perpetual clamor can be heard from The University of Memphisstudent body demanding more parking on campus. Dispelling thenotion that squeaky wheels get the grease, U of M parking serviceshas instead barred students from using an available lot.
"They need to let us park here," said Kyle Farris, freshmansports management major, as he walked through the lot. "We pay somuch, we deserve to not have to park a mile away."
The parking lot between the Panhellenic Building and the FedExInstitute of Technology lowered its gates to student access Jan.31.
An e-mail last week from U of M Parking Services announced thelot had been closed and the gates will only be open intermittentlyfor FIT activity while "a permanent parking plan requiring lotrenovation is being developed."
Lot 30, which had been closed during the construction of theinstitute, was open at the start of the semester and freely used ona first come, first serve basis by students and faculty.
Kathleen Treadway, assistant manager of Parking Services, saiddespite appearances, the lot had never officially beenreopened.
"The planning and renovation was prompted due to the use of thelot by construction vehicles while working at the FedEx Instituteof Technology," said Treadway, adding that the lot will remainclosed for regular use while finishing touches are made to FIT.
However, Wednesday afternoon only a dozen FlintCo constructionvehicles filled spaces in the lot, leaving 44 empty spaces.
Despite some protest by disgruntled students, there are thosewho are not up in arms over the closing-that-wasn't.
Carolyn Marshall said instead of parking, she wishes TheUniversity would divert more funds to make the campus morepedestrian friendly.
Trying to cross some streets "is like a bull fight" saidMarshall, a U of M graduate student who now takes managerial andFrench courses for pleasure.
Marshall, who has found she can lead her life without a car,called the amount of money The University is willing to spend onparking garages, and envisions an alternative solution -- a shuttlesystem which would ferry students to and from areas with ampleparking.
While no timetable has been set for the reopening of Lot 30,Treadway said, "it is anticipated that one of the uses of the lotwill be for resident parking."
Until then students like psychology senior Amy Witherspoon willcontinue to question The University's decision to close whatappears to be a lot FIT for student use. They're wasting the lotfor no reason," she said.
