Where to Rest the Ride

I don't know why some of my posts have been so transportation oriented lately, but here we go again.  If you have a car on campus, or even have a friend who does, I'm sure you know how hard it is to find a parking space.  A lot of people don't have a parking pass, and have to resort to scavenging for a space that is within a half mile of their domestic or academic location.  Yes, there are parking garages such as the one on Grant St., but at times they can get pricey.  Plus, no one wants to park in a garage for too long.  Someone could break in, key your car, or do god knows what to your precious baby before you return to find her in a state of shambles.  

I am lucky enough to have a parking spot at my sorority house right now, but I know of many others who are forced to park on Waldron or Russell.  Since there are so many people who also find themselves in this situation it can often times get impossible and extremely frusturating when looking for a place to park your little Bessy, but there is nothing.  I live between 5th and 6th streets, and some of my sisters have their cars all the way down by State St.  That's a lot of hassle if all you are looking to do is take a quick trip to Walmart.  

What I want to know is, why won't Purdue spend some of their budget on finding or making some new parking for it's students?  I find it hard to believe that paving a new parking lot somewhere nearby would cost even a substantial fraction of what we spend on sports or their facilities each year.  I'm not taking this time to rag on the athletic department, but I do think there is the money for it out there, they just need to start spending it on things that benefit more people.  If there was more parking offered, game days might not be so hectic and confusing for everyone coming in from out of town, or even from just down the street.  

There is space around the university, but some of it has gone untouched.  The black fields are one option that could be utilized.  I'm not saying all of them, because they are used for sports such as all kinds of intramurals, philanthropies,  and lacrosse.  But using a section closest to campus wouldn't be too devastating considering people tailgate there and park their giant RVs on the grass every time there is a home football game.  Maybe they would like some actual pavement to park their vehicle on.  So come on Purdue, and start working on something we really need: room for our transportation.