Is Campus Parking Still an Issue at Salem State University?

By Ashley Giardina, Salem State University journalism student

Salem, MA - Parking, still an issue at Salem State University? Did last fall’s garage opening help? That depends on who is asked.

The university administration feels that the parking issue has been solved.

“We have had a parking crunch for years and that’s always been the number one request from everyone,” said Karen Cady, Senior Director of University Relations. “Now we have the parking garage and it really eased the situation.”

Even looking at the numbers from University Police, one would believe that the situation has improved. Prior to the construction, commuters had 1,325 spots across the campuses and after construction. They are now offered 1,599 spots, police reported.

But how do students view the parking situation, since they make up the majority of the university’s population?

"I believe it is fixed as far as spots, since I park at O’Keefe [and parking] hasn’t been an issue,” admitted David LeBrasseur, a senior commuting from Lynn.

He said that he appreciates the garage, although he does not park there. Last semester parking was a challenge, he said, and he often had to park in unofficial or faculty spots, which resulted in almost $300 in fines.

Although LeBrasseur agrees with administration, the same cannot be said about all students.

"I honestly don’t see much of a difference with the new parking situation, except sometimes there are more spots for commuters to park,” explained Margaret Kazan, a junior commuter from Danvers. “But most of the time I park in spaces I shouldn’t.”

Irezzy Sanchez-Peña, senior commuting from Dorchester, agrees with Kazan that parking is still an issue. She said that the garage helped a little, but all it really did was put the commuters in one location.

With differing takes on the parking situation, the problem might not be the number of parking spaces on campus. Instead, perhaps it is more the way the spots are distributed amongst commuters, faculty, staff and residents

“Basically, University Police comes up with the plan that we have assigned lots for faculty and staff,” Cady said. “University Police look at the overall availability of parking and what the demand is and they figure it out.”

According to Ben Szalewicz, Assistant Vice President Capital Planning and Facilities Management, his department receives the plan from University Police and the necessary changes are made. Cady also said that the traffic patterns in and out of the garage are tracked, which may lead to further modifications.

While students may not see eye to eye on if parking is still an issue, one thing will be clear as day to all commuters in the fall of 2016: The cost of parking permits will double.

“The fees have increased,” Cady admitted. “I would describe [the current fee] as almost artificially low because we didn’t have parking.”

Cady added that now that the university has adequate parking, the fees can reflect those of similar universities.

Asked about the cost of a parking permit being raised, students questions all felt it was unnecessary and just one more financial burden.