Parking dilemma at Saint Xavier University

Here at Saint Xavier University, we have a student body of almost 3100 intelligent minds that have been gifted with the opportunity to further their education. 

In fact, in 2020, the University was proud to announce that the university would welcome its largest freshman class despite the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic. 

However, as the student body population continues to expand, the competition for locating a parking spot increases. 

As a commuter, I fortunately have a very short commute of about ten minutes. With such a short commute, you would think I could leave no more than fifteen minutes before class started. 

However, more days than not, it takes longer to find a parking spot and to walk to class than it does to drive to campus.

While a large student body means that there are a lot of students who need a place to park, it’s not just students that are parking in places that were meant to be for students and staff. 

Anyone in the community can park wherever they want, taking away parking spots from students trying to attend class on time. 

Opinions Editor for The Xavierite, Heather Mayhew, a senior here at Saint Xavier University, has stated, 

“As a transfer student, I have experienced both a closed campus and an open one. The parking situation here is a disaster. 

With the mix of the community, the student body, and teachers all trying to find parking- it makes it nearly impossible to find a good spot before classes begin. 

There have been many times that I have missed the shuttle or almost been late to class due to parking issues.” 

News Editor for The Xavierite, Cydni Washington-Bolden, a junior, said, “I think parking on campus is definitely hectic and chaotic by the early morning through the late afternoons. 

I often have to park by the campus media center and had to start parking near parking lot four by Rubloff Hall. I’d say it’s definitely ridiculous, but we are a pro-commuter school.” 

While Saint Xavier University is a pro-commuter school, parking spaces are quite limited. 

I myself have been late to class on several occasions because I had difficulty finding a parking space. One snowy morning, I had to miss class because I couldn’t find a parking spot.

I had a nine o’clock lecture and arrived on campus ten minutes before class started. However, by the time I found a parking space, the lecture had already concluded. 

While I thankfully knew someone in the class that shared their notes with me, I was still very frustrated about the situation. I enjoy going to that class and being able to ask questions in class. 

My question to the university: Why are we a pro-commuter school when we don’t have the parking space to be a commuter school?