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PARKING
Lower ticket prices back to $15

If everyone on campus had to name the No. 1 problem at TCU in order to win a million dollars, parking would be the ticket.

Literally.
In lieu of students voluntarily parking in “Fort-Worth illegal” as opposed to “TCU illegal” (approximate face

value: $15 vs. $50), the Fort Worth police are attempting to raise fines and increase towing in illegal parking spots. The fines for parking in the illegal spots across from the Moudy Building have risen from $15 to $100.

While TCU police officers and city officials alike state that the TCU student body has more than enough room to find a parking spot in neighborhoods surrounding campus, it’s obvious they have never left for class 45 minutes early just to secure a spot less than a mile away from their class. They have never circled around side-streets aimlessly and shown up to class late, despite early efforts.

This is not a state university, where a lack of parking spaces is expected. This is a small (and private) university, yet we have to walk across more area than our campus covers to get from a parking spot to a class.

It is hard enough sometimes on a college student to pay the $15 ticket within seven days. When you miss the deadline, the ticket rises to $20. With the initial fine rising to $100, will any college student in the world pay it on time? What will the late fine become? If $5 is added to $15, will $33 be added to $100? What college student can pay this at all?

Granted, no matter what the parking situation, even if we had to walk 10 miles, we should not park in illegal spots. They violate fire and safety codes and who even knows what else. Obviously, the “no parking” signs are there for a reason.

But everyone has those days when they’re dressed in their Sunday best for a huge presentation or are stressing about a 10-page essay test and need to get to class before they’re late. Giving them an unreasonably high fine for trying to get to their classes will only cause them more emotional and financial stress.