2008 Woodie Awards
IPTAY limits parking
New proposal to infringe on student game day parking.
By: Louise Goodman
Issue date: 4/4/08 Section: News
Last week Student Senate heard IPTAY's proposal to use parking lot R1 on home football games, leaving on-campus residents to use alternative parking.
IPTAY currently uses 300 spaces in parking lot R1 on game day but would like to use all 1,300 spots this fall.
The on-campus residents assigned to park in the lot will be required to move their vehicles to the Kite Hill parking, or lots P-01 and C-01, adjacent to the fire station, 12 hours before the game starts.
The proposal is yet to be finalized, but will ensure security guards in the lot, safety lighting and sufficient transportation to and from the lot, provided by IPTAY.
The proposal will offer a solution to the traffic congestion that builds on Perimeter Road between Highway 123 and Cherry Road by redirecting vehicles to park in Lot R1.
Approximately 40,000 vehicles enter campus on a home game, twice its usual occupancy of 20,000.
IPTAY Director of Operations Bill D'Andrea explained the additional vehicles in a limited space results in dangerous situations, including car accidents and illegal parking on curbs and in pedestrian areas.
"It truly is a safety issue," said D'Andrea. He also acknowledges the inconvenience, but hopes for students to cooperate, keeping in mind it is a necessary precautionary measure. Parking on home games has become increasingly limited with the expansion of Clemson facilities.
D'Andrea estimates IPTAY has lost 6,500 parking spaces in the past 6 to 7 years, when the use of Bowman, the band practice field and the indoor track location became unavailable.
Director of Parking Services Geary Robinson agrees limited parking is a continuous problem. "We will tow approximately 50 to 60 cars on average per game," he said.
Some Clemson students have no complaints about the possibility of less on-campus parking during football season.
"Part of what makes football season great is the atmosphere, which means making alumni and all the fans be able to take part in the experience," said sophomore philosophy student Elizabeth Foshee.
"I am not worried about the new proposal, I believe students' best interest will be represented by student government, and besides, it's a minor inconvenience only a few days a year."
Others are upset that the accommodation of football fans is at the expense of students.
This year students paid between $100-$134 depending on their academic year for a parking permit and not all Clemson students are concerned with school athletics.
"I think this is only one example of the mess that is Clemson parking, it would be more beneficial if administration could find new long-term solutions to the problem instead of limiting parking for paying students," said sophomore nursing student Ashley DeCristofaro.
Final plans for the proposal are being discussed with both undergraduate student government current president Josh Bell and next year's president Callie Boyd.
Student Senate will need to approve any IPTAY proposal for it to be enacted.
IPTAY currently uses 300 spaces in parking lot R1 on game day but would like to use all 1,300 spots this fall.
The on-campus residents assigned to park in the lot will be required to move their vehicles to the Kite Hill parking, or lots P-01 and C-01, adjacent to the fire station, 12 hours before the game starts.
The proposal is yet to be finalized, but will ensure security guards in the lot, safety lighting and sufficient transportation to and from the lot, provided by IPTAY.
The proposal will offer a solution to the traffic congestion that builds on Perimeter Road between Highway 123 and Cherry Road by redirecting vehicles to park in Lot R1.
Approximately 40,000 vehicles enter campus on a home game, twice its usual occupancy of 20,000.
IPTAY Director of Operations Bill D'Andrea explained the additional vehicles in a limited space results in dangerous situations, including car accidents and illegal parking on curbs and in pedestrian areas.
"It truly is a safety issue," said D'Andrea. He also acknowledges the inconvenience, but hopes for students to cooperate, keeping in mind it is a necessary precautionary measure. Parking on home games has become increasingly limited with the expansion of Clemson facilities.
D'Andrea estimates IPTAY has lost 6,500 parking spaces in the past 6 to 7 years, when the use of Bowman, the band practice field and the indoor track location became unavailable.
Director of Parking Services Geary Robinson agrees limited parking is a continuous problem. "We will tow approximately 50 to 60 cars on average per game," he said.
Some Clemson students have no complaints about the possibility of less on-campus parking during football season.
"Part of what makes football season great is the atmosphere, which means making alumni and all the fans be able to take part in the experience," said sophomore philosophy student Elizabeth Foshee.
"I am not worried about the new proposal, I believe students' best interest will be represented by student government, and besides, it's a minor inconvenience only a few days a year."
Others are upset that the accommodation of football fans is at the expense of students.
This year students paid between $100-$134 depending on their academic year for a parking permit and not all Clemson students are concerned with school athletics.
"I think this is only one example of the mess that is Clemson parking, it would be more beneficial if administration could find new long-term solutions to the problem instead of limiting parking for paying students," said sophomore nursing student Ashley DeCristofaro.
Final plans for the proposal are being discussed with both undergraduate student government current president Josh Bell and next year's president Callie Boyd.
Student Senate will need to approve any IPTAY proposal for it to be enacted.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Robbie
posted 9/07/08 @ 12:20 PM EST
Please, please, please, do not allow parking on Bowman. It would absolutely ruin the field which so many love to use.
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