Kim Borkowski
Equinox Staff
Parking for students and faculty is about to become more of a hassle on the Keene State College campus because of one white reason – snow.
It’s almost that time of year. Ignoring the freak snowstorm on Halloween weekend, pretty soon the snow will be flying and the mounds will build up all over campus, including the parking lots.
With excessive amounts of snow, there are times that Campus Safety closes parking lots in order to remove snow so students and faculty can have a clean lot in which to easily park. However, with this, comes the bother of parking elsewhere.
Jen Pires, a junior at KSC, said the snow bans had an effect on her last year.
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Pires explained, “It’s hard to find parking on campus to begin with, so when a parking ban is in effect, it’s even worse.”
Sam Massahos, parking coordinator for Keene State College, explained students aren’t technically banned from parking on campus during or after huge snowstorms. Massahos stated, “Students who have permits are never ‘banned’ from parking on campus, their parking is just temporarily moved to a different location so that we may do snow removal.”
Massahos continued that Winchester lot is where Campus Safety & Parking asks students to move their vehicles while the Keene State College Grounds Department does snow removal.
According to the Keene State College Emergency Guide, the Grounds Department is responsible for keeping an eye on the weather conditions and informing the campus community. The Grounds Department maintains the campus in ways such as mowing, raking, and shoveling. During snowstorms, Grounds is responsible for the snow removal all over campus, including the parking lots.
Massahos explained that Campus Safety & Parking has developed a new snow removal plan with the Grounds Department this year. She said they hope it will make more information on parking during snow emergencies clearer.
Students may be asked to move their vehicles to Winchester lot; however, the snow build-up can be an issue there as well, and the number of open spaces becomes limited.
Morgan Markley, a sophomore at KSC, said she has a parking permit for the current semester for her car. However, because of the snow situation she said she didn’t get a pass for the spring semester of 2012. Markley explained, “I remember last year walking in Winchester lot and seeing all the cars stuck in the snow. I just don’t want to deal with it; it’s not worth it.”
Karen Forster, a senior at KSC, said she lived in Pondside II last year for the first semester and had issues with parking in the snow. Forster explained, “I remember a couple times after a snowstorm when the plows would actually block me in so I’d have to shovel myself out.”
Forster added that she doesn’t agree with the parking bans during snowstorms. She stated, “They’re inconvenient and they seem completely unnecessary.”
Massahos said to remember timing is difficult when dealing with unpredictable weather. She stated, “During a snow event, snow removal involves plowing roadways, parking lots, and sidewalks to keep the campus as safe as possible. Snow removal is done primarily on the weekends. This will leave us time to contact our students, faculty, and staff.” Massahos added that they plan to send campus-wide e-mails so everyone is aware of the plans for snow removal.
According to Massahos, if a student doesn’t move his or her vehicle, the student is subject to towing or receiving a ticket.
Forster concluded, “I don’t remember ever getting a warning for parking bans.” She said often times she would receive a ticket.
As we get further into the winter season keep an eye out on your MyKSC account for e-mails and announcements pertaining to plans for snow bans in certain parking lots.
Kim Borkowski can be contacted at kborkowski@ksc.mailcruiser.com