_p.png)
By: Moon Phases
Picture this: It is an early morning, you missed your alarm clock and you have an exam in thirty minutes. Normally this would not be an issue if it were not for the University of Texas at El Paso's (UTEP's) parking situation. I have been late to multiple classes because it can take up to 15 minutes trying to find a spot that's close to campus and will not get me ticketed or towed. Unfortunately, most UTEP students share this fate.
For students who cannot afford a parking permit, running late to class is only one possible worst nightmare. They are left debating if they should risk parking at McDonald’s and getting towed just for one class. According to UTEP’s website, parking permit prices range from $150 to $400 for students and $300 to $930 for faculty, forcing individuals to decide between a convenient parking space or other financial needs.
Clearly, parking is overpriced and an issue at UTEP if students would rather struggle and try to find parking in nearby neighborhoods or businesses. For students like myself, it is not as simple as “just buy a permit.” As a broke college student, the last thing on my mind is paying hundreds of dollars for parking.
I have gone two years strong without a parking permit and no parking ticket, which does not come easy. I have no choice but to leave my house at least an hour before class because of both traffic and parking. Everyone has their own method to the madness, but even then, individuals struggle finding somewhere close by without facing the wrath of UTEP’s or the city’s parking police. After eventually finding a parking spot one must still walk all the way to campus and to their class. I have even skipped class a few times because of how long it took me to find a parking spot.
Many students resort to bicycling, skateboarding and even electric scooters because of how far campus is from free parking spaces. This is why free parking should be provided for students and faculty. According to an article by El Paso Times from 2018, there are 7,329 parking spaces available for students, faculty and staff, leaving roughly 70 percent of the student body without adequate parking. As a university that claims to have multiple resources available, it should help its student body with this issue. Since space is so limited it is unfair to overcharge students for horrid parking. UTEP shuttle buses that are meant to take students from far parking lots to campus fill up fast, which sometimes causes students to miss a spot and end up late.
Even though the neighborhoods I park in are far from campus, I still find it more convenient than paying $400 a year for filled parking garages. As a UTEP student I already pay so much in fees and taxes for resources I barely use, I would rather pay fees towards something that benefits me. UTEP could allocate funds from student tuition towards free parking for students and staff. Charging faculty for parking is outrageous. I cannot fathom the idea of giving so much commitment to a career and being forced to pay for parking. UTEP has failed its community by not dealing with the ongoing parking issue.
Comments