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Letters to the Editor

Parking spots unattainable, even with campus permit

I began this semester, along with many others buying a parking permit. I have a main campus permit that allows me to park in designated TCU lots. While buying a permit, I was told about the city’s changes to street parking but showed little concern since buying a permit in theory means there is a parking space on campus for me.

While I had noticed that parking this year seemed more difficult than the previous years, I took the spots on the street or in the occasional lot but didn’t concern myself much with thinking about what I would do if a spot was not available. Until last night, I had not realized the gravity of the situation. I arrived at TCU about 10:30 p.m. and began the ever present task of locating a spot. I drove through (Daniel-Meyer Coliseum) and the main campus lots behind the apartments with no luck, so I headed out onto the street. I drove down all the cross streets that are available for parking, no luck. I parked in a 10 minute spot, hoping that perhaps there would be some leniency due to the lack of spaces.

I got a $50 ticket. While I admit I was in the wrong by parking in a non-designated spot, I’m bothered by the fact that I spent $75 to park, and so far I have parked on the street every night except last night. I know many people feel that a parking garage would ruin the aesthetics of campus, but that’s a plausible solution. A four to five story-parking garage could easily be constructed in the back lot of TBPW. Reserve the first two floors for TBPW residents and allow the rest as main campus parking.

We as the student body need to do something about it. TCU’s mission statement is learning to change to world, so let’s not sit back and idle about it any more. Let’s change it.

—Megan Benton, senior theater major

Seat assignments in class confuse student

After reading Josh Deitz’s comments regarding the assigned seating in my Spanish class (in Sept. 10’s Skiff), I realized that I might have failed to adequately communicate my purpose in requiring this of my students.

A foreign language classroom is unique in that there is constant interaction between the instructor and the students. A seating chart in this situation is a valuable tool. It enables me to maintain a flow of communication which would be impossible were I using a class roll of new names. I explained to my classes that I would ask them to sit according to the chart until I was able to learn their names. One of my goals as a teacher is to create a comfortable, non-threatening environment in my class so that students will easily respond and therefore quickly begin to communicate in Spanish.

I regret that Mr. Deitz was uncomfortable with an assigned seat and that he did not understand my explanation of the seating chart’s purpose. After the first couple of weeks, a chart will no longer be necessary because I will have learned the students’ names, and he may sit where he pleases.

—Teresa Blackwell, Spanish and Latin American Studies instructor