As inflation rises, prices across the board are rising as well, including on Slippery Rock University’s campus. In a recent meeting with Slippery Rock Student Government Association, Christopher Cole, assistant president of Auxiliary Operations and Student Services, expressed that the board of trustees were considering a raise to parking permit pricing. SRSGA did not express support for this, however, the board of trustees still has to vote on this proposal.
Parking
All across campus, parking remains a consistent complaint, with students requesting more spots, a new lot or even a parking garage. As SRU witnesses an all-time high in enrollment, less parking spaces become readily available.
Alexander Holmes, a sophomore strategic communications and media major, drives about 10 miles everyday to campus from his Grove City apartment. He states that about 70% of the time, he struggles to find a parking spot.
Multiple other students share Alexander’s sentiment, expressing often feel anxious trying to get to class in time.
Ryan Chippich, a 20-year-old history major, explains the difference he notices between parking at different times of day.
“If it’s a later class, like noon or 11 o’clock, it’s an issue. But early, like eight or nine, it’s no problem…I usually end up parking in East Lake by [Eisenberg Classroom Building], but if it’s bad I end up by the baseball fields.”
Several students living in Rock Apartments have expressed disdain for the lack of designated parking spaces. Students in Rock Apartments feel that the apartments act as privilege for upperclassmen, however their parking is still in the normal residential lot.
Price
With conversations around parking permit price beginning, students were vocal about their tolerance for parking permit pricing.
Chippich and Holmes would only agree to an increase of around $5-15, while students like Landon Pagley, would be willing to pay more if there was substantial increase to parking capacity.
Pagley, a sophomore communications student, stated, “Honestly, I think I could justify an increase to $75-100 to fund the construction of a garage or more lots.”
Slippery Rock University is among the cheapest in parking pass pricing in Pennsylvania. PennWest Clarion and Edinboro charge up to $75-100 per academic year. Schools located closer to Pittsburgh experience even higher rates, with Duquesne charging up $1,187 per academic year. Point Park and the University of Pittsburgh have limited designated parking spaces. They instead work in partnership with surrounding lot and parking garages, offering student discounts.
Student Solutions
Like Pagley, many students believe the university should address the parking issue with the addition of more lots and spaces. Alexander Holmes suggested a parking garage dedicated for on-campus residents.
“Build a three-to-four-level paring deck, somewhere between Building F and the football stadium, and that’s where I would tell the letter residents to park,” Holmes said. “Especially the freshman that are already parking over there. I think it makes sense, especially in the winter when its snowing or raining; the cars will be protected. It would relieve pressure from the lots around East Lake.”
While some students are rather ambitious with their parking ideas, John Del Vechio, a sports management major, is much more realistic about the situation.
“I don’t think there really is a solution,” he said. “There’s not much room for a lot or garage on campus.”
Greg Chernosky, a commuter and transfer student, addressed the situation more logistically.
“Knowing about the history of Slippery Rock, it’s a lot of coal mines, sunken mineshafts, things like that,” Chernosky said. “We really don’t have the space to build anything new on campus, especially if we’re running the risk of sinkholes or something. I mean, I just feel like the best solution would be finding something off-campus.”
Current SRU off-campus lots are mostly designated for residential parking. Mostly used by students who don’t leave campus often, walking to class and back to their dorms. Our current off-campus residential lots are all very small in size. The lot located behind Subway, adjacent to Stoner West, holds under 30 cars. While open lots are available in Slippery Rock, parking is an auxiliary operation, with their budget directly correlating to their earnings.
