Undergraduates may think they have it tough when it comes to parking, but they will not get much sympathy from Executive Vice President Tallman Trask. The University's highest-ranking official with direct oversight on parking spoke to the Graduate and Professional Student Council last night, when he bashed the University's current parking system.
"I have spent 35 years on a number of college and university campuses and I have... never seen a parking system so screwed up [as Duke's]," Trask said. He added that a part of the problem was the result of the University and the Medical Center operating on different parking schemes.
But he also said the current allocation of spaces on the University side is wholly inefficient.
Trask was clear that next year's parking layout is not a permanent solution, but he assured GPSC that graduate students would not be hurt by the new plan. "For next year, if anything, I think graduate students will actually be a little better off," he said.
To alleviate the parking stress on graduate students, the University will build two new parking lots with approximately 500 spots. These spaces will replace those lost when construction begins on a new dormitory in the Ocean parking lot. In the long term, Trask said, the University plans to gate many more lots to prevent rampant illegal parking.
Along with the re-allocation of spaces, there will be a general increase in parking prices. Although prices will not rise substantially next year, Trask said, the administration plans an eventual drastic increase in the price of certain undergraduate lots. "For a significant portion of undergraduates, we're basically a warehouse," he said. "They bring 'em in, maybe go out on the weekends."
However, graduate students will be largely exempted from the increasing parking costs.
"Of all the people in the world, graduate students have the least amount of money and the most need for mobility," Trask said, adding that the current policy takes their needs into consideration.
GPSC representatives asked several questions about the feasibility of holding a graduate student basketball campout amid undergraduate cars. Trask assured the group that in the unlikely event that the campout could not be held in its usual location, a suitable new site would be found.
IN OTHER BUSINESS:
Scott Keane, GPSC representative to the Facilities and Environment Committee, reported that air conditioning will be in place in Cameron Indoor Stadium by next basketball season. Renovations for the stadium, which were approved at the committee's last meeting, include a new staircase and several additional women's bathrooms.
The GPSC office will have a new location effective next year. The Duke University Union approved a proposal for the office to take the current location of the Bryan Center information desk. According to the proposal submitted to the Union, GPSC should move into its new home by July 1.
The Council approved a $3,000 honorarium for president Tomalei Vess before closing its final meeting of the year. New officers will take their positions upon graduation in May.
"It's been a great year," said Vess. "Given the composition of the council and its strength, I think we can go really far next year."
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