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Parking is the greatest thing at the University of Maine. Buildings that open with a magnetic MaineCard are wonderful too. Has anyone noticed how pissed off commuters get when they can’t find a parking space or open a door? With over half of UMaine students being commuters, you would think the administration would treat us a bit better.
Parking has always been an issue for students and faculty alike. While the university continues to expand, parking has not. I’ve noticed a little more parking was created over the summer; a few spaces here and there – but nothing to celebrate. Although the woods are nice, it would be a good idea to look into harvesting the wood and paving the area for parking. The woods around the Hilltop area are pretty, but they look more attractive to commuters as a parking lot. Let’s face it, UMaine is growing in population, and the carpool is getting a bit tight.
Commuters also cannot get into any dorm. This is a problem when you go to visit a significant other or to study with a group of people. If you don’t have a cell phone, you must stand outside and use the extra loud intercom informing everyone that you have arrived. You might as well get a megaphone and scream at the top of your lungs. If that isn’t embarrassing enough, standing outside and waiting until the person gets to the door is a killer. If my friend lives on the third floor and takes the elevator, I will freeze by the time he gets there. Waiting outside looks sketchy and really does not attract guys either. There is the occasion where knocking on the door works, but it would just be easier to be given opportunity to use my own card and open the door.
Commuters only have Maine- Cards to look pretty and be part of the crowd. We use our cards for bragging about how hung over we were when our picture was taken and to dangle on our keychain. Although some people carry funds on their MaineCards, it is easier to use cash at the Memorial Union and University Bookstore. Latti Fitness Center uses our cards for about three seconds when they are swiped. For basketball, football and hockey games, our cards are once again abused for three seconds and then not thought of again for another week. I used mine at a hockey game one Saturday night and didn’t realize I had lost it until the next Thursday. If our cards were used a little more, I could probably keep track of mine easier and not bitch as much.
I have seen people who live on campus with worn, faded, peeling, cracked, scratched and disfigured MaineCards. It isn’t fair that my card will never look like that, and I am furious that UMaine won’t give commuters the same opportunities and privileges.
All of my friends live on campus and instead of a five-minute quick visit, it is about half an hour to find a parking space – not to mention a good, embarrassing freeze outside while I wait for friends to answer the door. UMaine should really think about the commuter situation, because last I checked, we are customers just like the on-campus residents. It’s time we were treated accordingly. Plus, it’s getting damn cold outside.
Jennifer L. Nelson is a sophomore chemistry major.
