Baker parking restrictions upset residents

Baker Village residents have taken issue with Luther’s parking system. Baker residents pay the same $100 for parking passes as other on-campus students, but their parking privileges are not the same.

According to Vice President and Dean of Student Affairs Ann Highum, Baker residents do not have as many parking options on campus because the parking system is designed to direct students to park their cars near their residences.

“Students who live in the Towers can park in Regents, students who live in Olson can park in the Olson lot,” Highum said. “Baker residents can actually park closer to where they live than anyone else living on campus.”

Nevertheless, many Baker residents have been disgruntled with the policy, expressing other concerns, including the fact that Baker residents cannot park closer to their classes. The only place Baker residents can park on campus is in the Regents lot, where they are limited to two hours.

“How come we can’t park anywhere on campus before 5 P.M.?” Baker resident Ahmed Alkhalili (‘10) asked. “People who park in any other lot can use other lots on campus, but we can’t. It feels very unfair to us.”

According to Director of Campus Safety and Security Bob Harri, the reason Baker residents don’t have full privileges is because Luther is experiencing a parking shortage.

“There are a total of 2210 parking spots on campus, and a total of 2191 permits,” Harri said.

Of those 2210 spots, 100 are in Baker Village, 53 are disabled parking spots and a few hundred are reserved for Luther faculty and staff. Luther added 22 parking spaces this year, but all are reserved for faculty or staff.

Adding more parking stalls would be difficult, according to Harri, who cited money, a decline in green space and decreased water absorbtion as potential obstacles to paving new lots.