SGA passes resolution, asks VCU to make Bowe exclusive
The Student Government association is asking VCU Parking & Transportation to make the Bowe Street Parking Deck exclusive to permit holders at all times.
On Nov. 30, the SGA senate unanimously passed a resolution condemning a policy enacted in fall 2015 allowing members without a permit to park in the deck during men’s basketball games. According to VCU Parking, the policy is intended to accommodate the high demand for parking near the Siegel Center, which has sold out its more than 7,000 seats for 70 consecutive men’s basketball games.
“This issue is less about convenience and more about how the new policy affects the safety and educational environment of the students,” said sophomore Senate Vice-Chair. Sarah Kilmon, SG-4. “They didn’t think about how this policy would affect permit holders and didn’t allow for any feedback for students to raise their concerns before the policy was enacted.”
The 440-space deck is located next to the Sports Medicine Building, Siegel Center and School of the Arts. Students, faculty and staff can purchase a 6-month parking permit for $350 or a 5-month permit for $202.
“We pay $700 a year so we don’t have to move our car around, so to kick us out over 10 times and give us specific hours to move our car back and forth that are strict and inconvenient is ridiculous,” said Taylor DeGroat, a sophomore who holds a permit to the deck.
If parking really wants to do this than they owe us the money that we paid for the convenience of having parking.”
In addition to passing a resolution, senate representatives sent a letter to officials at VCU voicing concerns about the policy. The letter included three alternatives that they believe could satisfy both those with passes and those who need to park for games.
One of the options asks VCU Parking & Transportation to offer subscribers of the Bowe Street deck a reduced rate over those who pay to park elsewhere, since other parking decks do not have the same policy.
Another option asks the subscribers of the parking deck be given the option to park in places that may be closer to their housing through zoning permits or the option to park in other garages. In the third option, the SGA asks VCU Parking & Transportation to completely remove the policy and offer VCU basketball spectators an alternate location.
As of Dec. 4, parking had not responded to the SGA’s request. VCU Parking & Transportation sent a statement to the Commonwealth Times saying they plan to respond imminently.
“We aim to provide all of our subscribers with lot or deck parking options that best suits their needs; however, parking is in great demand around both of our campuses and at some times of the year (for construction, special events, emergencies, safety),” the VCU Parking & Transportation statement read. “We may ask our subscribers to temporarily relocate to an alternate parking facility. We have received feedback from the SGA regarding student concerns and will be addressing these concerns via a formal response by Dec. 7.”
Staff Writer, Fadel Allassan
Fadel is a sophomore print journalism major. He is fluent in English and French and enjoys writing about politics. // Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn
