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.