Commuter

Issue date: 9/15/04 Section: News

Media Credit: Nancy M. Carpenter Frustrated students parking wherever they could find room early in the semester. [Click to enlarge]

Signs of Northampton's rapidly growing student population are all around, from the crowded café in College Center to the stairwells jammed with humanity between classes.

But with 8,142 full- and part-time students - an 8.7 percent increase over last year - perhaps the most pressing sign of growth is found outside, in the congested parking areas.

The parking lot is like the "Wackey Racers. You have to fight for a spot," said Julie Tice, a freshman Physical Education major. "People always go the wrong way and you could easily hurt somebody."

Some students have responded to the parking challenge by creating their own spaces on the grass and on the side of curbs. No one got a parking ticket at first, but that's changed.

"During the first two weeks of classes each semester, we overlook parking on the grass violations," said Assistant Director of Public Safety Timothy Brady.

But beginning Sept. 8, Security began issuing violation notices, which carry a $10 fine for parking on the grass.

 "Students and staff who do not pay their fines may have a hold placed on their student account until they satisfy the debt," Brady warned.

Finding parking on the Main Campus is not impossible although prime spots quickly fill with students with classes scheduled earlier in the day.

So where are those empty spots?

"At peak times, there are typically 100 to 200 vacant spaces in the large lot between County Hall and Residence Hall" (on the North Campus), Brady said.

In addition, the College recently opened a lot next to the new student activity center under construction. This lot contains 150 spaces, which will expand to 236 by the time construction ends in May.

This will bring the total number of parking spaces on the Main Campus to 2,532.

The College's recent agreement to buy the Da Vinci Discovery Center in South Side, Bethlehem for a new campus may alleviate parking pressures on the Main Campus by siphoning off some of the students.

As for now, there are no plans to provide more parking on the Main Campus.

If students wish to get one of the coveted spaces in the main lot, their best option might be to register for 8 a.m. classes.

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