As so many JMU students know and complain about the parking here at this university is inconvenient, inconsistent, and a huge stressor for students when trying to get to class. There needs to be more parking as well as maybe replacing some teacher lots for commuter lots here at JMU.

Statistically we are said to have a 1:16 teacher to student ratio. Yet somehow all complain about never finding a spot when parking services claims “there’s always spots somewhere” yet that doesn’t matter. There may be a spot in Ballard deck (parking services claim) yet a students class is all the way across campus an approximate 20 minute walk on average. That doesn’t matter though because why should students have to inconvenience themselves because the university and board fail to hear out one of the biggest complaints here a James Madison University.

I don’t believe there is much left to explain besides if they claimed they cared and want to always provide the best for the students, that is thrown out the window with this issue. It is a huge stressor as many students can speak for themselves and how much this affects their feeling about getting to class and making sure their on time, when they are doing their absolute best to get the education they’re paying for!!! (As well as the $300 for the full year pass it’s self). Not only that but then we are told to “just take the bus” except, if you tell for example 20% of students to stop driving and take the bus you have an influx of students on the buses and what does the bus do when there’s max capacity on a bus they don’t stop at every stop because they cannot have any more people come on so that poor person waiting at the bus stop wondering why the bus passes them has even more stress wondering what to do now to get to their next class!

 Everyone has been waiting and wanting change but has either been shut down by parking services and the university or just to afraid to speak up knowing their say wouldn’t make a difference. With a little money and determination that school 100% has we can come together to end the debate of them “not being able to do anything” even if it starts with adding 10 or 20 extra spots. So if you’re in it with me and every other student who suffers and has to stress about getting to class or “deal” with this, please sign this petition as it will be brought up and shown to Tim Miller, Parking Services, and whoever else who it pertains to in order to make a difference in our JMU community as I will not take no for an answer.