Campus Security enacts new parking system
Photo by News Editor Taylor Perkins.
On Aug. 17, Director of Communications Brian Conn announced to the student body via email that Lee University would be adopting a new parking system for the upcoming fall semester. In the email, Cole Strong, Vice President for Operations, explained how this would affect and improve student life.
The new parking system uses signs designed by APCO Signs, an architectural business. According to Campus Security, other universities similar to Lee use the same signage.
Graphic by Senior Designer Riley Latham.
New signage can be seen across campus designating lots by three colors: navy, tan, and maroon. The three colors represent the three zones of campus: North, Central, and South campus. You can see the division of campus on the map provided by Campus Security.
These signs will be seen in every parking lot, also displaying a number and explanation of who can park there: commuter, dorm, or visitor.
The most drastic change can be noticed with the new designated dorm parking:
Atkins Ellis: C6, C8
B.L. Hicks: N1, N2
Bowdle/O'Bannon: N8
Brinsfield Row: N3
Cross/Tharp: C8, C9
Dirksen Row: S3
Keeble/Dirksen: S3
Livingston/East: S3
Medlin: C2, C3
New Hughes: N3
Nora/Simmons: C8, C9
Sharp/Davis: C11, C12
Storms: N7
And the new designated commuter parking:
North Lots
N2, N4, N5, N6
Central Lots
C1, C4, C5, C10 East/West
South Lots
S1, S2, S3, S4, S5, S6 North/South, S7, S8
Photo courtesy of Campus Security.
When comparing these numbers to the parking map, students will notice that dorm residents get to park much closer to their dorm than in the past, where they would have to park on the backsides of campus - for freshmen, the Mayfield Annex, or Church of God parking lot. Now, commuters are parking on the outskirts of campus.
Aaron Shipman, captain of Campus Security, said he noticed similar universities eliminating the freshman parking permit. This inspired curiosity within Campus Security on how to better service the campus.
“We decided there’s got to be a better way of doing this,” said Tyler Allen, Assistant Director of Campus Security. “We want to bring them home, basically. The students that live on campus should be able to do that and park closer to their place of living.”
Students have expressed their nerves about far-away parking in the past.
“We thought that it was kind of a disservice to the female students who were freshmen having to park at North Cleveland,” said Shipman. “Especially seeing that the majority of the students that we came in contact with also had jobs after school hours.”
Last semester, Campus Security launched its collaboration with LiveSafe to ensure added security. One of the many features of LiveSafe is a walking feature that allows students to invite a friend to track them while they walk. Allen hopes the combination of the LiveSafe app and the new parking system will create a safer atmosphere on campus.
“I lived on campus for six semesters. I felt unsafe multiple times,” said Kate LaFollette, a senior psychology major. “I would come in late and have to park half a mile away and walk through soccer fields in the pitch-black dark. There were a lot of instances on campus that made it even more scary at different times of the year.”
LaFollette is happy the current students will not have to experience the same issues. As a commuter this year, she explained the most significant change has been having to walk more than she anticipated.
Senior RA of Nora Chambers Hall Kenzie Colston worked nights during her freshman year and would ensure her safety walking back to her dorm by talking to a friend each night.
Last year, Colston made an effort to be available to her residents.
“I was readily available in the case they needed to be picked up or someone to walk with at night … this meant a lot of walks with residents at night and check-ins,” said Colston. “For commuters on the outskirts of campus, I definitely recognize the inconvenience of this change. However, since classes are almost all during daylight, I think this will make the most sense after some transition period.”
The past two semesters have seen multiple changes to campus protocols. Allen assures students more changes will be made to make campus safer for all students.
“Our female dorm areas had suffered so long,” said Allen. “Hopefully, they will realize what we’re trying to do to help them feel safer … There is a lot more to come other than just parking signs. On campus, there will be directional signs telling you where to go.”
Campus Security is hopeful that the final signs from APCO Signs will be installed during the first two weeks of September.
For more information on where to park on campus, click here.
