I’m sure most of you have gotten this email, and if you’re like me, you’re a little more than displeased with this decision. You couldn’t just cancel afternoon classes, could you, Chancellor Everts?
I, like most of you, have a lot of issues with this decision. I personally pay a lot of money to the school in order to park on campus TO GO TO CLASS. That is why I’m here, and I’m a little more than pissed off that this email is telling me that I can’t park where I pay a lot of money to park TO GO TO CLASS in order to accommodate a football game. No offence to the football game. I’m all for our football games, but I shouldn’t have to worry about how I’m going to get to class because of a game. Aren’t there enough restrictions to parking on campus? I’ve followed all the ridiculous parking rules for three years now, and dished out a lot of money so I would be able to follow the rules, and now this crap.
The email suggests we be “eco-friendly” on these two days and carpool, take a bike, etc. but some of us don’t have that option. What are the people who live far out in the country without bus stops supposed to do? Yes, this is Boone, but not all of us have bikes! Carpooling doesn’t work when your roommates and friends are trying to get to class themselves. Walking is out of the question for people who live miles away. I, personally, could walk the two miles to class on the side of the highway, which sounds totally safe (not). What options are left? Skip class? Lose points on your final grade because you couldn’t attend class because of parking restrictions due to a football game? What are the students who park at Greenwood and live in a dorm supposed to do with their vehicles? Can’t park in front of the dorm, can’t park where you pay to park, so now what? I suppose you could park somewhere in Boone and pray you don’t get towed (good luck with that).
Can we talk about the traffic and mayhem that’s going to happen on these two days? Our football games are not only attended by students, but by alumni, and fans from all over. Campus is going to be crammed that afternoon and traffic is sure to be hell. Safety is a big issue here that needs to be considered. It’s dangerous enough crossing the street to get to class on a regular day. People drive like maniacs. I’m constantly trying to not get hit, and trying not to hit others, while navigating around campus. Imagine what’s going to happen when over a hundred more people are going to be on campus.
The buses are going to be PACKED. If you have the option of taking the bus, you’ll be one of the lucky ones with the privilege of being packed like sardines in a moving vehicle rolling down the highway. Again, this sounds totally safe (not).That is if you’re lucky enough to get on the bus and they dont just wave at you as they pass by because its so full.
All this decision has done is piss off the majority of students, and encouraged them to skip class because they have no other option. All because of a football game.
This decision has shown us more of what we already know: athletics are more important than our education.
There is still hope. Individual professors can still cancel class. I’m crossing my fingers because, let’s be honest, they’re not going to want to walk all the way from Hillstreet or Greenwood to teach a class where half the students are probably not going to show up. So here’s hoping for that to happen.
Also, there is a petition you can sign at https://www.change.org/p/chancellor-everts-allow-students-to-park-on-campus-for-thursday-football-game-days?source_location=petitions_share_skip
Everyone break out your Hunger Game skills! May the odds be ever in your favor!
Image Sources:
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