"Enough is enough" response

I was a little upset when I read "Enough is enough" in the February 17 issue of The Comment. I can understand your frustration about commuter life; having 330 parking spaces taken away is very annoying, but it is only a temporary setback. The school would have more parking spots already set up, but there was an issue with purchasing land, and that is not the school's fault. Anyone who has bought land to build a house knows that sometimes there are conflicts which delay the process. Once those parking spots are put into place, it will resolve a lot of the parking issues.

I am a junior and have been a resident student for three years. I also work for Admissions as Student Tour Coordinator and hear all the ins and outs, goods and bads about being a resident, and a commuter. But the grass isn't always greener on the other side. You stated that you have never heard of a resident student complaining about parking. I can tell you, there are plenty of complaints. I am a second year Woodward Hall resident, and have had plenty of issues with parking. First, have you seen how few parking spots Woodward Hall's lot has? Not enough to accommodate all the Woodward Hall and Scott Hall students. I am sure a lot of students who live in these dorms can understand what I mean when I say we stake out parking spaces and hunt people down for their spots, much like you have experienced with the Spring Street Lot. I've had to come back to school from a weekend at home earlier than I would have liked so that I can get a good parking spot. Most students who live on the Westside have to park in the Lower Great Hill resident lot. But even that lot is often full. I have had many nights that I have parked in the Rosen Lot, which is about a mile from Woodward Hall and carried laundry and groceries as well as books back to the dorm. And this brings me to another point. You stated, "No one wants to stay on campus when they have to walk a mile and a half to their car at 10:30 at night." That is why BSC provides Safety Escort from 7 p.m. to 3 a.m. The extension is x1745 and is for commuters and residents. They will gladly drive you to your car in the Spring Street Lot or wherever you are parked. I know commuter students involved in "Pops" and in Greek Life that are on campus late at night and they use a safety escort van or park as close as they can to the building they're in. The Safety Escort Service is essential on our campus, and I don't understand why some people don't take advantage of it. Bridgewater State College was not set up to be strictly a commuter school.

Yes, we are 62% commuter, but a number of those are Dorm Wait-List students. Many students who apply want to be resident students, but can't due to lack of housing. Many students are forced to commute long distances because they were not fortunate enough to receive housing. This is why those new dorms are being built.

As a tour guide, I hear many perspective students ask the question, "Is this a commuter school?" or "What is the commuter to resident ratio?" Many perspective students are turned off to the school when they hear there is not a lot of available housing. I believe the new dorms will be an asset to the school and will help the school grow both in size and in academic excellence. Yes, I am a resident student and am guaranteed a bed, but as a commuter you have to understand BSC doesn't view you, the commuter, as a second class student. BSC is trying its best. You need to be patient because in the end, the new construction at Bridgewater State College will benefit everyone.

-Katelyn Germano, junior, resident student