UCC closes two bordering lots
Area reserved for competition; some students frustrated by loss of spaces

By John Weyand
Staff Reporter

Students may find themselves yelling even more at the car in front of them, fighting even harder for a parking spot and leaving for class even a little bit earlier because they will no longer be able to park at the University Christian Church.

Since the beginning of the month, parking has decreased substantially in two lots bordering UCC. A chain-link fence now divides one of the lots, reserving those parking spaces for members of UCC. The other lot is temporarily closed this week for the Van Cliburn Piano Competition.

Photo by Tim Cox A TCU Police officer explains Wednesday to Sarah Anderson, a junior music education major, why the University Christian Church parking lot is closed.

Linda Gray, the music secretary for UCC, said UCC attendees will have an easier time parking because of the division of the lot.

“This way, people going to UCC during the day don’t have to fight for a spot,” Gray said.

Lauren Morton, a sophomore social work major and member of UCC, said she and other congregation members have had trouble parking at UCC on weekdays.

“Of course it’s a problem for people going to the church,” Morton said. “TCU students dominate that lot, so naturally, church members have a tough time.”

The south lot, which is police-guarded, is reserved for only those attending the Van Cliburn competition. Shows run from 2 to 5 p.m. and 8 to 10 p.m., but the lot is closed all day, representing a loss of 100 spaces.

Despite the fact TCU is responsible for the closure of the lot, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Don Mills said the two lots do not belong to the university.

“TCU leases the lots from the church for $1 a year,” Mills said. “The lease is part of an agreement with specific requirements.”

According to the agreement, Mills said, the lots have to be empty by midnight except on event nights. Additionally, the lot is reserved for UCC on Saturdays, Sundays and for weekday funerals.

UCC Assistant Business Manager Carol Hestilow said the agreement with TCU has worked out nicely.

“We are happy to share the lots,” Hestilow said.

Students, however, aren’t happy that there are fewer parking spaces.

Jess Price, a senior radio-TV-film major, sees the closures as a backward step in an already difficult situation.

“It would be faster if I walked the two and a half miles to school as opposed to waiting 45 minutes for a spot,” Price said.

Price said even students who don’t often use the church’s lots will be hurt by the closures.

“I don’t usually park in (the UCC) lots,” Price said. “But (the closures) will just cause those students to park elsewhere, and it will cause a ripple effect on the rest of us.”

John Weyand
j.h.weyand@student.tcu.edu
Skiff staff member Angie Chang
contributed to this report.