The Advance

Issue date: 3/14/08 Section: News

Media Credit: Ben Fetherston The parking lot between Wilson and Wesley Halls is at full capacity. The adjacent lot, on the east, is for apartment residents.

The presence of the new student center and gymnasium is going to be a huge addition to the campus of Kansas Wesleyan University.

But where are visitors and students going to park during games, activities or even just on a daily basis?

There have been many concerns brought up by students and faculty about the increase in parking space on and around the campus. One rumor is that the empty dirt lot on the east side of the University United Methodist Church is going to be transformed into a paved parking lot for the new building.

The president and school board have also been trying to turn Fourth Street, just outside of the current gym, into additional parking spaces as well. There is only one set back to transforming Fourth Street. Union Pacific Railroad owns Fourth Street and will not allow the transformation.
A few students were asked what they thought was the best idea to increase the parking space for students and visitors.

Senior Eric Garcia replied, "I was driving by the gym the other day and noticed that the women's clinic on Fourth and Claflin was empty." He added, "Why not buy that building, tear it down and build a good-sized
Rumors of a new meal plan have spread across the campus of Kansas Wesleyan. With the addition of the new Students Activities Center, there will be a new place to purchase meals and snacks. The Sub will also be moved to the Student Activities Center.The first option is to keep the students' meal plan as it currently is. That's breakfast, lunch and dinner at
parking lot in its place?"

Senior Brent Normington said, "To increase parking space and allow every student and visitor to have a place to park, I think the school should build a two story parking structure on the back side of Wesley Hall, where the current parking lot sits."

This idea seemed to strike a lot of students in the same way. Nine out of 10 students who were asked if this parking structure would be a good idea said yes.

Many students who live on campus are forced to park on the side streets behind each of the dorms due to limited parking space. This narrows the road for drivers and many students are not comfortable leaving their cars on the street. "I usually try my best not to park on the street. I don't like the idea of my car being somewhere that it could be hit easier than in a parking lot," said Normington.

The addition of different parking lots around campus or even a parking structure would allow students to feel more comfortable, and also give enough spaces to all students and visitors.

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