A new semester means the beginning of classes, dorms and new experiences. But of course, with each new semester, there’s the quest for a good parking space. But this fall semester, here are three components that any student can follow, making parking no longer a nightmare at WSU.
The first component is the Dee Events Center. This vast parking area is a great spot for students to park, especially with the morning students. “We always recommend the Dee Events Center to park,” Crystal Taylor, Parking Services, says. “If you have classes during the peak time of 8 a.m. to 11 a.m., it’s great because you have the shuttle buses coming every five to seven minutes.” Due to the large parking area around the building, students won’t have a problem finding a spot.
But while there are many “W” lots around campus, time management is required to find a parking spot. “If you’re not early, it’ll be looking for Waldo, except there is no Waldo,” Marissa Hinrichs, a student, says, talking about finding a good parking spot.
The second component is more parking opportunities. “You can park anywhere after 4 p.m.,” Taylor continues. “As long as you are parked legally, you can park on any WSU campus after 4 p.m. without a parking permit.”
Ray Lawler, a new WSU student, works full time and takes evening classes. “I love that I can park anywhere for my evening classes and don’t need a permit,” Lawler says.
There are also improvements that have been made recently to parking permits to further help students. “We made the hole on the parking permits larger to accommodate the newer vehicles,” Taylor continues. “That way, they don’t fall down and can be visible.”
The third component is the Paw Print Shuttle Line. Tyler Hall, who has been working on this project since spring 2013, wants to help students find a way to get to classes easier. “The Paw Print Shuttle Line is a line designed to promote student peace of mind,” Hall says. “There are six lines of 25 paw sets with an approximate wait time of two minutes for each line for a total approximate time of ten minutes.”
The purple paw prints can be located at the shuttle shelter at the Dee Events Center. “There is a designated pickup spot so the drivers can clear the roadway and intersection and students do not have to rush the bus,” Hall continues.
Whether students are new, or returning for a new adventure, parking can be a breeze. “If you plan to be at least a half hour early, you’ll find a space,” Hinrichs continues. Along with the large amount of parking available at the Dee Events Center, morning students won’t need to worry about finding a “W” parking spot. “While there may not be a lot of convenient parking, there is plenty of parking to accommodate students,” Taylor says.
