Parking priorities

In the Duke Student Government meeting on Wednesday, student leaders took a strong stance opposing any possibility that administrators might eliminate freshman parking on East Campus. Although Duke Parking and Transportation Services has not made any official statements, the possibility of such a change certainly worries many freshmen who value the convenience and freedom that on-campus parking provides. Given that Duke has finite parking space and a high demand for it, the removal of freshman parking has been discussed by administrators for years. However, before DSG and the larger student body go up in arms, both sides of this complicated policy issue must be considered.

The benefits of freshman parking are real. East Campus parking spaces afford freshman immediate and convenient transportation. Whether this transportation is used to explore Durham, visit local family and friends, pick up groceries or make the long drive home for breaks, parking has significant benefits for freshmen. It opens up social opportunities beyond campus, strengthening first-year bonds. It also promotes engagement outside the Duke bubble by facilitating access to service opportunities, local events and performances.

Although the benefits of freshman parking are clear, they must be weighed against the real costs. With limited parking across all campuses, Duke faces pressure from graduate students, staff and faculty who commute to campus. This vehicle overflow incurs a financial burden when Duke is forced to rent satellite parking lots and run shuttles that bring these individuals to campus. In addition, the goals for carbon neutrality incentivize a reduction in single occupancy vehicles by making parking less accessible. Furthermore, reduced or eliminated East Campus parking does not mean preclude freshmen parking on West or Central campuses.

Freshmen must realize that their current parking situation—often right outside their dorms—is incredibly convenient when compared to other schools. For example, at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, freshmen are not allowed to park anywhere on campus. Upperclassmen often have to walk 20 minutes to get to their cars.

In light of all these salient considerations, we must truly weigh the costs and benefits of removing freshman parking. Data must be collected. How often do freshmen drive their cars and for what purposes? Does the number of single-occupancy vehicles accurately measure carbon footprint, especially if freshmen primarily use their cars to return home? Could eliminating freshman parking even provide a permanent solution to Duke’s parking shortage? Perhaps other creative policy solutions could be more effective, from making cheap satellite parking spots available to students or increasing the number of WeCars? Data will help to clarify the tradeoffs at stake. We can offer an informed solution only after collecting and analyzing it.

We must work to thoroughly understand the East Campus parking situation before we take a strong stance on it. Parking is vitally important to the undergraduate student experience, employee transportation and sustainability goals, and there are important considerations on all sides Therefore, we should eschew panic and anger in favor of openness and creativity. DSG should be flexible in their talks with administrators as stubborn and one-sided lobbying may risk productive policymaking concerning this and future issues.