Where to Park?? By: Mariah Grindle

When thinking about the various issues that are apparent on the DU campus, my group chose to take on the task of DU parking. It is believed that DU parking is an issue that is reoccurring, and if someone does not speak up about it, nothing will ever change. Of course there will never be one way to solve this problem, but I believe that it can be made more student- friendly. There were many arguments that could be made against the way that the DU parking system is set up. Some may include the price of parking permits and others may bring the issue of not having enough parking spaces to the fore front. This is going to be the main focus of my argument.

Every student who decides to bring a vehicle to DU is required to purchase a parking permit, which will allow them to park inside any of the parking areas in which their permit is permitted. This seems to be a good way to manage where students park, but when looking at it from a broader perspective, it is very inconvenient to most students. There are permits ranging anywhere from $33.00 to $279.00. Besides this being a pricey investment for students to make, there are negative conditions that come with these purchases. General Parking Permits cost $78.00, which is the permit that most students have. This permit allows you to park in the parking garages with only gold writing on the parking signs. When visiting other parking areas, I have personally noticed that there are barely any parking garages that have gold writing on their parking signs. But other than that, other permits are not permitted to park in other designated parking areas.

When speaking about this issue, reminded me of a recent interference that I had with parking in the general parking lot. On Thursday, February 2, 2010, I had returned from my morning math class, and saw a sign on the entrance keypad of the general parking lot. The sign read “Dear DU Students, this parking lot is full. Lower level parking is permitted”. So instead of backing out, I decided to drive around and see if there were any empty parking spots. I was upset to find that there were no parking spaces. But as the sign permitted, I drove to the lower parking garage where I continued to park my car. Since the rest of my classes are in walking distance, I did not have to use my car until later than night. It was 7:45 p.m. when I noticed the citation on my car. At first, I was irate. But then I realized I was not the only car, who had a general parking permit, which had received a citation. This instance showed the inconvenience of the DU parking system. It was neither mine nor any other students’ issue that there was not an adequate amount of parking for the amount of students that park in that garage.

Not only is there a problem with parking on campus, but where are students supposed to park when they are not allowed in the parking garages? A lot of students decide to park on the streets. But when parking on the streets students do not have the option to park for more than an hour. So they then receive a citation from the City of Denver. Which could range anywhere from $30 to $50. This is double the amount of a citation from the University. But yet it was not the students’ fault that they had to park on the streets.

I do believe that the parking system at DU is not the worst, but there are definitely minor issues that make parking a hassle. Although it is a current issue for students, there are other scenarios that show the ways that others are challenged with finding parking. In an article that I found on Lexis Nexis, was related to my argument. In Brooklyn, at Crispus Attucks Schools, there was usually a valid amount of parking spaces for faculty. Only having fifty-five teachers, there were sixty available parking spots. But the city then decided to change their sweeping policy which affected the parking spaces available for faculty. Most of the parking was found on the streets, but with this change, there would be less available spots for people to park. The amount of spaces that were allotted for the school was mostly for the teachers. But what about the others, such as the custodians and other employees? They did not have any where to park. This area was not the safest, so trying to find parking in a random alley or random street was not safe for the employees.

Although the circumstances may be different, it shows the intensity of the situation. Without a place to park, there could be unsafe repercussions to not being able to park in the parking garage or having to park on the side streets. Given this example, having access to parking is a vital part of a student bringing a vehicle to campus.

Mcmahon, Michael. "An Uneven Allotment of Parking Near Schools."

(2008): 1. Web. 3 Mar 2010.

DU Spend? By: Emma Garrison

As a college student, well over three hundred dollars is a significant amount of money. But don’t be fooled by the University of Denver’s devious ways to milk even more of the big bucks out of the DU students, especially those who have a car on campus. As a student purchases a parking permit at the University of Denver, the three hundred twenty five dollars and fifty cents is simply a down payment. Over the course of the quarter, students begin to acknowledge that although, yes, a permit was purchased, there is a lack of availability, as well as a lack of parking lots’ accessibility. This ultimately forces pass holders to park in spaces that charge hourly rates. I do understand the severity of the limited parking circumstances that we, as a University, face. Including the pay-by-the-hour parking, “One Hour” parking the city provides, and the select few lots that permits are valid, that there is indeed, availability. The catch? The convenience, of course, comes with a fee.

The University has done a magnificent job at creating an ample supply of passes for any student who so chooses to purchase one. However, due to perhaps lack of business ethics, DU has sold more permits than spaces available in the general parking lots. Therefore, there are not always spaces available for those who have spent an adequate amount of money on a permit. Not to mention the days when sports events take place. The general lots are accessible to those who do not have permits at all, who are also being charged; yet again, spoon feeding more money to the university. This creates slim to none availability for those who do have permits. I understand the University of Denver has the right to charge however much they desire for such a privilege presented to the students. Likewise, we as students, have the right to decide if we will, in fact, bring a car and purchase a permit. By purchasing a permit we agree to abide by the parking policies, but are the policies worth nearly four hundred dollars? We pay immense amounts of money, while commonly encountering a lack of accessibility.

Not only that, but for the hundreds of dollars DU pass holders pay, more parking lots should be available. Each permit is specifically directed to a particular parking lot. The most permits the university sells are those of the general lots, also the most common parking lot to over flow. Meanwhile, other lots such as the restricted parking have more spots open than spots being used. The unorganized stature of this system is unacceptable.

By creating such inconvenient and pricey options for the students to choose from, we are virtually forced to park elsewhere. The University of Denver is lined with some of Denver’s cutest homes, filled with families who share the need of parking availability. The city of Denver has created a system that only allows cars to be parked in front in the surrounding neighborhoods of campus for one hour (much more appealing to a student than using the University’s parking because there is not a fee). Not only is this difficult for students to endure (with most classes lasting longer than one hour, creating a constant distraction from class—worrying about receiving a ticket), but the nearby families as well. When one violates the one-hour parking regulation, a large fine from the city of Denver, up to one hundred and fifty dollars, is issued. By the University of Denver’s lack of affordable and available parking, students are obliged to park in these spaces, with the high risk of receiving a very expensive ticket.

The students who choose to use the hour-by-hour parking meters that DU has provided, have conceivably further encouraged the parking service’s greed for money. When a student has encountered receiving a ticket, whether it’s from exceeding a time limit on a (previously paid) meter, or simply parking in an invalid area (in accordance with the purchased permit) the university collects money from every angle. The student pays for the meter, the student pays for the parking permit, and now the student is paying for a citation. The parking services have a constant income from the students and faculty. When not exploiting money from it’s students and faculty, DU milks cash from the fans and parents of our sports teams. If that doesn’t repel fans, I don’t know what does.

Overall, the amount of money that the University of Denver’s Parking Services charge is extensive. Whether, for an unworthy parking permit, or an unpaid parking meter citation, the University of Denver finds ways to collect a large sum of money through their parking spaces. Perhaps it is time for the University to have a single parking pass, valid in any and all parking spaces on campus. Those whom do not possess a pass can easily pay for hourly parking. With students paying approximately fifty thousand dollars annually, the least the University of Denver could do is provide available and accessible parking for its students and faculty.

Ethics - A Commitment to Community

As a business student at the Daniels College of Business, I have come to realize that ethical responsibility is a popular topic at the University of Denver. Ethics is emphasized in every class and lecture. It is referenced in Chancellor Comb's Vision and Mission Statement, and it is listed in “The Daniels Core Values." Through my studies, I have been taught to consider ethical responsibility in every situation.

Ethics. According to the Merriam-Webster’s Online Dictionary, ethics is “a system of moral values” and “the consciousness of moral importance.” Although morality is open to interpretation and personal opinion, it has one underlying intrinsic characteristic – consideration. Morality considers the wellbeing of others in every choice and action. Therefore, ethics is simply the application of morality, contemplating what is best for others and considering others in every choice.

Today, ethics is a major consideration in business. In the days of the Industrial Revolution, profit was king and every decision was based entirely on the bottom line, but that set of values has become largely outdated. No longer are sweatshops and child labor acceptable. Employers are prevented from taking advantage of employees and are required to provide safe work environments. Sick days and optional benefits are commonplace. Although profit is still the main focus of any modern business, most contemporary business plans aim to maximize profits without encroaching upon or harming others. Companies have realized that being socially aware and cognizant of environmental effects – ethics – can in fact increase their profits, allowing them to capitalize on changing markets. For example, in 2009, the United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton recognized TOMS Shoes with the Award for Corporation Excellence for their “commitment to corporate social responsibility, innovation, exemplary practices, and democratic values worldwide.” At the University of Denver, the Daniels College of Business has embraced this popular movement toward ethics, incorporating a “commitment to community” and “ethical behavior toward all constituencies” into all curriculums. Methods for increasing profit are taught right along side responsibility to the community. Doing the right thing has become just as important as making the most money.

Unfortunately, I have observed an inconsistency on campus; not all of the University of Denver campus has embraced this pledge to ethics. One department specifically, Parking and Transportation Services, continues to focus on individual gains and chooses to ignore the needs of the greater community. My first complaint with the business practices of Parking revolves around the General Parking Permit. For students with cars on campus, they are given an option to purchase a general permit, allowing them to park in any of the select general parking lots on campus. It is the cheapest permit offered by Parking and Transportation, and consequently, it does not guarantee a parking space. Given this stipulation, I have little sympathy for students complaining about not finding a parking spot near Olin at 7:55am. It is not Parking and Transportation’s fault that there are no available spots left in a popular lot right before classes start for the day. I do not have a problem with the more expensive permits being allowed to park in general lots. Customers of more expensive permits pay for one space and get one space; Parking only gets paid once for one parking space. I do, however, condemn Parking’s unlimited sale of general permits. By selling more permits than spaces available, they deliberately sell a product they may not have. From my perspective as a first year business student, there is no difference between Parking and Transportation and a store selling items they do not have and collecting profits despite the fact that no product was delivered. In essence, they are selling one item repeatedly, and collecting money multiple times for that one item. They maximize profits by ignoring their customers and the impact on the surrounding community. They maximize profits by ignoring business ethics. Yes, Parking has a monopoly on parking around campus and therefore can set high prices to match high demand, but that does not give them the right to completely disregard moral and social responsibility by any means.

My second problem with Parking and Transportation services stems from event parking on campus. This issue plagues every parking customer, from the general parking permits to the most expensive and exclusive parking permits. During special events, Parking opens up their lots to visitors to campus, charging a fee to park in campus parking spaces. Again, like selling more general parking permits than there are spots available, Parking and Transportation charges visitors to park in spots already paid for by parking permits. Again, they collect money multiple times for each parking space to maximize profit with complete disregard to ethics. Again, they maximize profits by ignoring business ethics.

Parking and Transportation Services is guilty of devoting themselves entirely to profitability while rejecting their responsibility to the community. I would like to clarify, I do not have a car on campus and therefore I do not need a parking permit through Parking and Transportation Services. I do not have any personal vendetta against parking or any other investment in the parking situation. I do, however, believe in responsible profit, and as a DU student, I am flabbergasted that Parking and Transportation has deliberately rejected moral responsibility in its business practices, especially when ethics is a core value of other departments at the university.

There is a problem with parking on the University of Denver campus, and to borrow from the university’s advertisement campaign, we need to DU Something about it. By no means am I arguing that Parking and Transportation Services become a non-profit organization, but I do believe that they need to adopt the values of other departments on campus, and practice the concepts taught in the classroom. They need demonstrate that profitability can be coupled with ethical responsibility. Not only is it the right thing to do, but Parking and Transportation Services needs to set an example for students.