Anybody been to Southern Lately

[tempatv]

I was walking around campus and there is all kinds of work going on. Looks like they are finally working on the sidewalks. I always felt bad about the people in wheelchairs. Those sidewalks were terrible. I also noticed they tore down the old international studies building to put in a new parking lot, for administrators i think. they also closed one of the streets on campus too to put more bricks down, to connect to the bricks by the water fountain by the hub.

Southern needs a facelift bad!

[aaron]

They really need one of two things. A new parking lot for students on campus, or a walkway across 4th street to prevent students from getting hit.

[usm_designer]

haha. aaron is really passionate about the parking. :lol:

[tempatv]

i believe anybody thats had to come on campus is passionate about it, haha. whoever donates the money to build a parking garage will be the most loved person in hattiesburg, he could almost be a god on campus, haha. is there anything i can do for u mr. parking garage man, haha

[Lylabean]

Haven't they tried to get a parking lot/garage built before or at least talk about it?* I agree..parking is horrible..unless you are faculty...what zone is it? zone 4 and you can park anywhere..bet they'd bring a pretty penny on ebay* :lol:

I went to MSU and I remember ever semester it was the same old story...they would have, for example, 2,000 parking spots but sell 2,750 parking decals!

ofcourse at State there were places to park...close to the coliseum..which was about a 1/2 mile from most of the buildings the held classes..:)

[aaron]

well, went I attended USM, I always parked at Reed Green, it was quite a walk, but I didn't like driving around looking for a space every morning, I was assured a space there. Now, that's not a guarantee. On top of that, when I travel down 4th street, I'm dodging students crossing the road. I never go by there at 8 in the morning, but I can only imagine it's much worse.

Haven't they tried to get a parking lot/garage built before or at least talk about it?

They have talked about the possibility of a parking garage on a couple of occasions that I am aware of. When Fleming was president it was discussed during the development of a campus master plan. Unfortunately, because of the politics surrounding things at the time, the plan was left unfinished and never resurfaced after Fleming left.

Another time that I remember, I was approached by some of the faculty senate about putting together a position statement that discussed the benefits of a parking garage versus grade-level parking from a traffic management and environmental point of view. I did write the statement and submitted it to the university but have no idea what happened to it from that point.

[usm_designer]

if they made a parking garage... they would just make it all faculty parking and fine you if you parked in it

A parking garage built close to the stadium could be a serious money maker for the university. Spots could be sold for eagle club parking. Think about it, a tailgating area that is relatively secure from the elements...

[aaron]

yep, it would pay for itself. You could charge faculty and students a yearly fee to have their own space.

[SoMissTV]

I was on that master plan committee during Fleming's administration. I'm proud to say that we had not one, but three parking garages on the final draft (which was scrapped when Fleming was shown the door). One garage in the parking lot north of Bond Hall, one on the rugby fields by the stadium, and one by the theatre and dance dept. Of course, that plan was built on the assumption of having 20k students, so even then, parking would be difficult.

[aaron]

What's really sad is that they want to build an extension onto the stadium when we can't sell out football games now, but they are ok with letting students park a mile away across a busy highway. I just don't know what they are thinking sometimes.

I was on that master plan committee during Fleming's administration. I'm proud to say that we had not one, but three parking garages on the final draft (which was scrapped when Fleming was shown the door). One garage in the parking lot north of Bond Hall, one on the rugby fields by the stadium, and one by the theatre and dance dept. Of course, that plan was built on the assumption of having 20k students, so even then, parking would be difficult.




Cool, I was also on that committee. And you are correct, even with what was being proposed there would still be issues. It is amazing to me that the university has invested so much money into grade-level parking and the issue continues to persist. I think that the problem, in addition to the "too many cars, not enough spaces" issue is one of "not enough spaces at the right time of day" and "I really would rather not have to walk that far to get to my car".

Say what you will about Thames but his and other leader's efforts to make the campus more pedestrian friendly has much merit.

[Buggy]

I don't really mind walking so much. I just wish that all of campus was as shady as the historic part. It's kind of rough walking all the way across campus in the hot sun, carrying a heavy backpack, arriving at your class with sweat dripping off of you because you just spent ten minutes in the hot sun. Maybe they could plant more trees, and until the trees got bigger they could put up some kind of simple canopy over some of the main sidewalks.

I'm sure it'd be too expensive, but that's just my dream.

[aaron]

This is what I'm talking about (http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050527/NEWS01/505270303/1002)

[cafe au lait]

This is a passionate topic of mine as well. When I lived in Hillcrest dorm, we played a real life game of Frogger trying to make it to class alive as we crossed 4th. I'm so jealous of those who get a crosswalk and a flashing light. I know that has helped alot. I always stop for pedestrians there. I see other cars do as well most of the time.

I may get flamed for this, but here it goes. I think a parking garage would probably be an eye sore. Our campus is finally getting the face lift it needed and I don't think a parking garage would add any beauty. Also, USM campus is primarily women. Parking garages are traditionally unsafe places, particulalry for young women. Many would not feel comfortable parking there and avoid it if possible.

However the parking does suck. The faculty don't have it any better. Adaquate parking is needed however, so I think the addition of regualar parking lots on the perimeter of campus is fine. If you have to walk a mile to campus, think of it as your exercise. I know it sucks. We are a little spoiled in this city with door to door service for everything.

[JB2379]

i disagree with you Cafe, i don't think a parking garage would be an eye sore. I think it will serve as symbol that the university is moving in the right direction. If parents and perspective students see that parking garage filled with cars, maybe they will realize that USM are doing SOME good things.

[AlphaMale]

Parking is a problem at several universities, not just at USM. I've been on campus at the U. of Alabama in Birmingham, and you don't just pull up within a block or two of that stadium either to get to any game. You pay to park blocks away and dodge traffic there also. There is no easy solution to having 15,000 cars and trucks in town.

[SoMissTV]

The concept of moving parking to the outer edges of a campus is a sound one. It ultimately allows the university to group buildings closer together, and allows for greater use of green space. However, the fallacy in USM's current method of parking arrangements is that the university does not want to take on the costs of a shuttle service around campus. If the university were to provide a number of shuttles, then the parking problem wouldn't be a problem. Go look at any large campus where the parking is placed away from the buildings. USM's refusal to take on the additional costs associated with outer-edge parking is an insult to the students, faculty, and staff who have to trudge through the heat or rain (or both) to get to class.

[Buggy]

They ought to build a monorail system. Then I could get on at the science tower and just ride over to Southern Hall intead of trudging through the thick sticky heat.

I can dream, can't I?

[cafe au lait]

Yes Air conditioned monorail....That's perfect.