Every student at ETSU has some opinion on the parking situation. Enrollment for the school has been on a constant rise in recent years, and now rumors of a parking garage are swimming through the heads of faculty and students. However, the formation of a committee specifically for the building of a parking garage could prove that the complex will be a reality in the near future.According to David Collins, vice president for finance and administration, a committee was formed earlier in the semester for the prospect of building a parking garage. The committee is made up of a number of select students and campus officials. Some of those on the committee include Bill Rasnick, associate vice president of facilities management, Bonnie L. Burchett, director of housing and resident life, and several members of the SGA.

“All we’re trying to do is explore the idea,” said Collins. “We have been growing around 500 students per year, so we’re looking at several things.”

The location for the proposed parking garage is still a matter of debate, but lot No. 22A, the large parking area near Buck’s Pizza that runs parallel to State of Franklin Road, is one prospective location.

Collins said that the university hopes to hold about 1,000 spots, which would make the structure somewhere from four to five high. Collins also said that the parking garage may hold its own bookstore, food court and public safety office. He also included that one idea would be for the complex to have a bridge that went over ground level to get back and forth from the ETSU/Mountain States Health Alliance Athletic Center.

But Collins was quick to point out that all of these are just “ideas being discussed” for the time being. “You don’t just build something like this overnight,” he said.

Collins said that funding for the building would have to come from increased parking fees, but when asked if money would be raised elsewhere, such as tuition, Collins was quick to respond.

“There would be an increase to parking fees,” Collins said. “But no, the funds to support this would not mean an increase in tuition.”

Some students and faculty at ETSU have addressed the fact that other universities don’t let freshmen have a vehicle on campus during their first year.

Collins said he just didn’t see this as an option.

“We are a community school,” said Collins. “We just don’t think that’s an option, because of our regional nature. We’re more about access.”

Students on campus have been very vocal about the parking situation, both those living in dorms and those commuting.

“I do not know of a single student or professor who has not complained about having to wake up 45 minutes to an hour earlier than he or she normally would have in order to drive around in circles, waiting for a car to back out of a parking spot,” Ruta Stallard, computer science major, said. “A parking garage would make things more efficient and give students and faculty alike one less thing to stress over.”

Rebecca Moody, an anthropology major, echoed Stallard’s words.

“I’ve heard talk of this garage, and I think it would definitely be a good thing,” Moody said. “I think it’s a good idea, but that will depend on where they put it.”

If the parking garage should happen, Collins said that the fall of 2013 would be the most realistic.

“Even the most optimistic outlook, it’ll be the fall of 2013 at the earliest,” Collins said.

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