Abigail Dunagan, Campus Carrier features editor
One of the most common complaints that students have about Berry is the parking situation. I cannot count the number of times I have heard people complaining that Berry doesn’t have enough parking. As a senior who has spent three years at Berry and lived in both on and off campus housing, I am here to tell you that this problem is extremely over overexaggerated and it is not as serious as it is often made out to be.
“There was no parking at Evans this morning!”
Before I answer this statement, let me ask you where you are living. Are you a commuter, or do you live at Oak Hill or Mountain Campus? If the answer to this question is “no” than there is no reason to be driving to class. The Evans/McAllister parking lot serves one of the busiest class centers on campus. Many professors and students use those buildings every day, so it is naturally going to be a difficult parking lot to find a space in.
“I was late to class because I couldn’t find parking!”
If you do live in one of the housing areas that would require you to drive every day, you should know after a few days that there is always parking in the Cage Center. If you are running late to class, why would you waste your time circling the Evans parking lot looking for a spot when you could just save yourself that time and park in the Cage? As a college student, getting to class on time is your responsibility. You are fully responsible to plan for your day and to figure what time you need to leave to avoid traffic or other delays. If you are late to class, just acknowledge it and move on.
“Berry needs to build a parking deck!”
No, they don’t. One of the most unique things about Berry is the beautiful nature that covers campus. Where else can you walk past a family of deer on your way to class? I personally don’t want to look at a giant concrete parking deck in the middle of this stunning campus.
Compared to many other colleges, Berry is doing just fine in the parking department. I have friends at bigger schools who pay hundreds of dollars for a parking pass, yet they can only park in one specific deck. It takes some people much longer to find parking at big city schools. While it is frustrating that old Moon parking lot is gone because of the new building, there are still plenty of parking spots in the Cage. On busy days it may take a little longer to find a spot or you may have to walk a bit further, but we are able to park anywhere other than Fac/Staff. There are many bigger schools that require students to park in specific parking lots or take public transportation across campus.
Walk to class and take the time to enjoy our beautiful campus. We have so much nature around us, and we are often in such a hurry that we don’t stop to enjoy it. Get yourself a good pair of headphones and listen to your favorite music or podcast during your walk to class. Use ths time walking between classes to decompress. College will likely be one of the last times that you will get to live in a walkable community, so take advantage of it.