Graduate school isn't much use to those who cannot reach the campus on a daily basis for classes, research or teaching. Parking is critical, but unfortunately, it hasn't been as much of a priority for Duke University as most students would like it to be.
Graduate and professional students, among others at Duke, have several issues with parking on campus. Most of us live off campus and have to drive in. Unfortunately, there are few alternatives, as public transportation often does not reach the areas in which students live. Biking or walking to work or class can be extremely dangerous when there are no sidewalks or bike lanes in much of Durham and even parts of campus. Thus, like it or not, we are stuck parking at Duke.
The biggest problem by far is the lack of spaces, especially those convenient to the fast-growing Research Drive area. Many students, faculty and staff want to park in particular lots so getting a permit in those lots can be nearly impossible. (Last I heard, the waiting list for a Circuit permit has grown to more than 500 names.)
Available permits may be in lots that can be more than a mile from a student's class or lab, leaving students to rely on buses. Those lots are also sometimes oversold to such a degree that students who arrive later than the early morning can't find a space in the lot in which they have permits. Students desperate to reach a class on time sometimes park illegally and wind up with $100 tickets.
Tickets are also doled out to students parked in lots that are "reserved" for various functions. Lots are sometimes designated as reserved, but not always, and unsuspecting graduate students have been ticketed for parking in lots they regularly use after hours. It can also be frustrating to see reserved lots sit nearly empty while guards turn away all students.
In general, the communication of lot closings at Duke is poor and could be much improved. Because all students have access to lots after a certain time each weekday, it isn't sufficient to notify only registered permit holders that a lot is reserved.
Registration for permits is another necessary improvement that should be made. More than once, students desperate to register for a parking permit in a lot closer to lab or class have logged onto the system en masse on opening day and crashed the registration software, leaving students frustrated.
This year, the Graduate and Professional Student Council was assured that students who wanted to renew an existing permit could wait to sign up, as no changes were to be made beyond a 2.5- percent increase in cost for all permits. GPSC went on to help Parking and Transportation Services by letting students know that there was no rush to log on for renewals. Unfortunately, a big change was made that was not communicated to students at all.
Medical students found themselves charged several times what they had previously paid for parking, but it was too late for them to purchase a permit in nearby lots, which filled up immediately following the start of registration. Students on financial aid were given additional loans to cover the expense (more loans are just what medical students need!), but many, including M.D.-Ph.D. students, were given no additional compensation and no parking alternatives. As of Tuesday afternoon, this issue is still unresolved.
To be honest, I can understand the problems that parking services faces in trying to accommodate the many commuters to Duke. Unfortunately, the long-standing policy of funding replacement parking through building funds when facilities were built on parking lots has recently been dropped to encourage construction. Thus, while the additional students and staff that fill these buildings necessitate additional parking, fewer spaces are available. Parking services cannot fund new lots alone, as current fees pay for improvements in the streets, SafeRides, the bus system and more.
I also understand why the University does not fund parking services. Any funding that Duke puts into building new lots or subsidizing parking costs for students is money that could be used for academic programs. However, the time may be coming when Duke must look into investing in parking and transportation. After all, new academic and research facilities are little good to students who cannot reach campus each day.
Heather Dean is a graduate student in neurobiology. Her column runs every other Wednesday.
Get The Chronicle straight to your inbox
Signup for our weekly newsletter. Cancel at any time.