Parking woes affect everyone

Parking has plagued NIC for a long time. With the massive influx of students in the last few years, it’s only getting worse.

According to NIC’s 2011-2012 Student Handbook, our campus provides 1,740 parking spaces, 233 of which are fee-free. That’s about four times more students than parking spaces. Staff parking has been expanded to accommodate more instructors on campus, but instructors also surely feel the pain of a lack of parking spaces.

This dilemma becomes quite apparent to the late arrivers, who get to campus only minutes before their classes begin and scramble to find a spot. Sorry guys, you’re not going to find a place to park. You’re better off walking.

Parking downtown is limited, but not as limited as NIC’s situation. The two-hour parking spots might not be ideal for those of us who are in class all day, but still, we have other options. The Coeur d’Alene Skate Park has an open dirt parking lot. Side roads behind Paul Bunyan and beyond McEuen Field are close by. The Tubbs Hill parking lot is free for two hours and it’s a brief stroll away. One can reach campus from practically any downtown location in about 10-30 minutes of walking.

Some parking spaces on campus are reserved for people who hold certain positions within the school, such as the ASNIC president and Sentinel editors. In desperation, students pull into our designated parking places, which infuriates those of us who plan to park there. I’ve been late to class on occasion when this happens. Campus Security is only a phone call away. Plus, you’ll have an extremely peeved peer to deal with. Unless you plan on working hundreds of hours laying out a newspaper and devoting your life to the Sentinel, or work your way to the top of student government, don’t park in our spots. We work hard for it and have classes just like you do.

Will NIC build a parking garage? Will students forever have to be clever or timely about transportation to school? Time will tell, but for now, please drive safely, good luck getting to class on time and make everyone’s life easier by parking where you’re supposed to…even if it means walking a bit.