In the battlefield that is Texas A&M University- Commerce parking lots, is the constant struggle between those of us with green parking permits versus those with the blue parking permits.
I arrive in front of the McDowell Business Administration building every morning just before 8 a.m. so that I can be on time for my student worker position. Every morning, without fail, there is a car with a blue sticker parked in the coveted green spots.
You know which ones those are; there are four of them just to the side of the 30-minute parking. When it is cold and raining, nothing is more appreciated than parking in one of those up close and personal slots.
Nothing makes me angrier than seeing those blue parking permits in green spots every morning. Can the faculty and staff be considerate to those of us with limited options in parking and at least fill up the blue spaces before yanking the close green spaces right out from under us students.
I understand the value of a short walk, however, it is a bit ridiculous to look across that street and see a plethora of unutilized blue parking spaces and all of the student spaces taken up by faculty.
So I ask myself, “Self, why am I getting so mad over a few measly parking spaces?”
The answer is simple, I am mad based upon the principles of basic common courtesy.
If the University wants to focus on customer service, then the focus should begin from the bottom – with parking etiquette. I am not sure that Emily Post has a manual over this, but I am sure that I could write one.
Here is another anecdote to ponder. Students were elated to find out that a new parking lot was built in place of the old Science building. A whole lot just for green parking with no blue in sight created an even playing field. This lot was even close to buildings that hold classes! Yes, blue permit holders parked there, but there was no designated blue parking.
The unhappy ending in this scenario, the Faculty Senate decided that they needed more parking, and away the green lot went.
What I do not, and cannot, comprehend is the reasoning behind offering a blue parking area when those with the coveted BLUE parking permits can park anywhere they please. And they do. Trust me. They do.
So, to this I suggest that maybe the faculty and staff should walk a mile in the students’ shoes? Reverse parking “privileges” for a week. Maybe if A&M-Commerce did this one thing to focus on customer service delivered to students, the bridge between students and faculty would be gapped. I know I would like it.