Dear Editor:
The recent Viewpoint article (Aug. 30) about the parking problem at ETSU was all the whining I could stand. I am sick of reading and hearing students complain about parking.
First, I have never not been able to find a parking space. That is because I go to the end lots (by McDonalds or past the CPA) and there are always open spaces! Yes, I could waste my time like you other idiots and go around in circles for 30 minutes trying to find a space close to where I don’t have to walk! Oh my God! Walk?!
Go to any other university and check out how far you’ll walk there. I can walk from McDonalds to Buck’s Pizza (the entire campus length) in 15 minutes. Anybody wanna take a guess at the distance? Not far, less than 1 mile. I just can’t imagine walking that far everyday! Go to most colleges, and the distance they BUILD parking lots and garages is from here to Egypt.
Also, the parking space to student ratio is much better that most colleges our size. We have it easy here! Second, I never see anyone riding the BucShot, from the farther parking lots here. I guess that’s too much like the “bus” for you rich kids with parents paying for college and a gas guzzler vehicle they bought you, which by the way, costs more than most people make in a year in rural Tennessee. And in those vehicles, I see one person! I guess carpooling is out of style too. Just ride a bike!
Third, and most important, the article had a big caption; “There needs to be more spaces for students so they can make it to class on time.” Now this really disappoints me. Is that the point?
Sounds like most students who complain, and the author, is part of that “It’s someone else’s fault, or someone else’s job to solve my problem” crowd. That’s one problem in our society now. We all want to put responsibility for our problems on someone else, like the government, or our parents, or our institution. Find solutions yourself!
What if you told your employer at a job the same thing about “being late” or parking problem? I as a boss would see you as incompetent, and not as a “problem solver” that I would promote, and would conclude that your parents solved all your problems for you, even into college.
Hey rich kids, some colleges don’t allow students to have a car. Try that one! (And no I did not walk to school when I was kid 10 miles and in the snow.) Your parking problem is not ETSU’s — there are plenty of spaces. Just arrive at school 20 minutes prior to the start of class, drive to farthest lots possible, pull-in get out and walk 10 minutes to class. And, for God’s sake, stop complaining, and find your own solution. The education you get in college really has less to do with classes and tests, as it does with growing up, socialization, and coping. Why don’t you complainers start on your education now, or just enroll somewhere else!
-William Huneycutt

Author