Florida International University FIU Digital Commons Beacon Magazine Special Collections and University Archives 1-19-2017 Panther Magazine, January 19, 2017 Florida International University Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/student_magazine Recommended Citation Florida International University, "Panther Magazine, January 19, 2017" (2017). Beacon Magazine. 17. https://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/student_magazine/17 This work is brought to you for free and open access by the Special Collections and University Archives at FIU Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Beacon Magazine by an authorized administrator of FIU Digital Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. PANTHER MAGAZINE Vol. 1 Issue 2 A Forum for Free Student Expression at Florida International University One copy per person. Additional copies are 25 cents. Late AF Late Hella Late Uh-oh #@$%! 3 2 4 1 5 Lucky 6 Drop class FIU P arking Perils NIA YOUNG/PANTHER PRESS 2 Panther Magazine – Thursday, January 19, 2017 PantherNOW.com PARKING PANIC Residents, commuters discuss University parking GUETHSHINA ALTENA/PANTHER PRESS University traffic and students crossing on SW 9th avenue and University drive by the parking garage 5 market station on Tuesday January17th 2017 GUETHSHINA ALTENA “I know that FIU has a lot of parking “I have been here all four years and I find Juan Jose is a freshman journalism major News Director garages already but I feel like we should the parking situation to be terrible,” the senior who commutes to FIU. He says he has been have more parking spots or do a better job at computer engineer major said. “When I come late to classes before because of the long delay With less than half of students living helping students find parking,” she said. during rush hours, it has taken me as much as to find parking on campus. on campus, FIU is considered a commuter Nathai does not think that the boards 20 minutes to find parking on campus.” “It’s freaking terrible, it sucks so bad; school. outside of the parking garages help a lot. The Morisseau usually park in Gold Garage when I had a car, I had spent an hour looking The department of Parking and boards are supposed to tell drivers if there is and sometimes for both work in school, she for parking and I ended up just giving up and Transportation is one of the biggest parking in the gargage but the little info they has to wake up early to be on campus around parking across the street at Publix,” Jose said. departments that deals with student, faculty offer is not sufficient in helping people find 7 a.m. and 8 a.m. and find a good parking spot. Jose thinks that it’s best to come to school and staff on campus; transportation from one parking according to Nathai. “At the Engineering Center, the Parking two hours early especially if you have an campus to another and moving within the “When I used to live on campus, I took the and Transportation department needs to have exam to make sure that you are not late even campus from one building to another. bus to the Engineering Center and now I notice more service available to help students with if it’s the worst case scenario. Many students view the quality of service that it improved a lot; the [departure] times are cars over there,” Morisseau said. “I have had Vanessa Louis, a finance major, Alkania provided differently. Some have concerns now a lot more frequent and that really helps a few instances where I was able to find help Hepburn, nursing major, and Ruth Joseph, and others are satisfied with how diligent the students,” she said. “The department is doing from them when I need a jumpstart.” marketing major, are three first-year students University is when it comes to providing safe a good job when it comes to that.” “The one advice I will always have for who live on campus. and proper transportation for student. Nathai recommends other students who other students is get here early, as early as you As residents, they are satisfied with Resident students and commuters disagree drive to get to campus early, about 13 minutes can,” Roberson said. “Try to get here 15 to 20 most of the services that the Parking and on the best way the University can improve before their class in order to avoid being late minutes before the start of your class.” Transportation department offer. Though they their parking problems and what are the mains since MMC is a busy campus. Adonas Puente is a sophomore psychology believe that improvements can be made. issues that students encounter on a daily basis. Kiara Roberson is a sophomore major who lives on campus. Hepburn owned a car that she used to Tamara Nathai is a student assistant at the psychology major who recently learned the “For students like me who live on campus, drive on campus, the frustration of not finding Graham Center information desk. She is a difficulties of parking on campus. parking is a little easier. There is always parking discouraged her and she just went senior criminal justice major who commutes “I just started driving this semester and parking after students, staff and faculty leave back home. to school and parks in Gold Garage. She has since there was not a lot of people here during campus and I don’t have to worry about people “Sometimes it’s a good idea to get to had difficulties finding parking multiple times the winter break, I found it quite easy so far to taking up my spot because residential students campus at least an hour and 30 minutes before and has been late to her classes a few times as park and drive around campus” Roberson said have their cars in designated parkings,” he class because finding parking can be close to a result of that. Emmalie Morisseau however disagrees. said. impossible at some hours,” Hepburn said. PantherNOW.com Panther Magazine – Thursday, January 19, 2017 3 Students speak out on transportation issues with the University GPE shuttle busses CEYLINE ARIAS that if you pay a small fee for and Transportation website, continued Gonzalez. provide a “Knight Flight,” Staff Writer transportation, you are covered “A Parking and Transportation Gonzalez is not the only which is a free shuttle bus for the semester and you Access Fee is assessed to all student feeling troubled by from the UCF main campus to According to the University’s certainly don’t see that with this students per semester as part the expense that comes along Orlando International Airport Parking and Transportation bus,” said Sandro Alvarez, a of their enrollment. This fee with using one of FIU’s (MCO) before seasonal breaks website, there is a wide range sophomore communication arts funds maintenance of parking transportation, however. including Thanksgiving break, of options for students in need major. facilities, sidewalks, garages, “I understand that the driver Winter break, and Spring break, of transportation between MMC Currently, students pay emergency call boxes, bicycle needs to have a monetary a service FIU does not offer. and the satellite campuses BBC “I honestly can’t wrap my and Engineering center, as well head around this. This shouldn’t as for those looking to explore even be something that we, as outside the University. students, should have to pay for. The Golden Panther There’s plenty of universities Express, the University’s most that offer bus and shuttle widely used shuttle for students We hired Academy bus, That’s what the cost of providing the service is. If services for free. What’s so and faculty alike, “provides you charged everybody who rode, you’d have to charge everybody $5. But different about them? Why is an alternative to driving students get it at $2.50 because the other $2.50 comes from student fees, it taking FIU forever to do the between FIU’s main campuses: same?” said Gonzalez. Modesto A. Maidique campus According to a previous and Biscayne Bay campus,” Student Media article from according to FIU’s Transit October 2015, “FIU does not website. Thomas Harley own the shuttles, but rents Though the GPE shuttle Executive Director charter vehicles from Academy, provides a wide range of Department of Parking and Transportation a private transportation company services during a student’s originally based in New Jersey.” commute, including free Wi-Fi, “We hired Academy bus,” installed security cameras on the $2.50 and non-students and rack program, lighting, etc.” incentive, but the fact that I said Thomas Hartley, executive shuttles in order to insure and affiliates pay $5.00. Included Gonzalez, however, does not have to pay extra for a bus that director of the Department of enhance student, staff and faculty in FIU student’s tuition is, seemed convinced. should have been covered by Parking and Transportation. safety, many students share the however, a transportation fee of “If that’s true, why are my tuition payment should be “That’s what the cost of concern that the pricing of the approximately $90. students paying to use a service non-existent,” said Alvarez. providing the service is. If you bus fare is something to take into Melissa Gonzalez, a that should be free? I don’t get In fact, other public charged everybody who rode, consideration before attempting sophomore biology major, where the money we pay at universities such as the you’d have to charge everybody to use the GPE shuttle. expresses her concerns the beginning of the semester University of Central Florida $5.