Because the senior lot was to become vacant after the Class of 2024’s graduation on Saturday, May 11, with two more weeks of classes before the end of the year, sophomores were allowed to buy parking spots.
Typically reserved for juniors and seniors only, the process to secure a spot required student drivers to submit their driver’s license, insurance and the model and plate of their vehicle. Each spot cost $10 and 142 spots were sold. The money raised will serve as additional funding for the school.
Jennifer Akin, Junior Class secretary, said providing this opportunity for sophomores allows them to try out parking before their junior year.
“Everyone’s always excited to drive to school, especially the sophomores, because they know there’s a lot at stake for them to be able to park,” Akin said.
Akin said whether or not the school continues to offer sophomores spots in the coming years depends on when the Senior Class graduates.
“This year may have been the first time that we had two full weeks without that Senior Class here,” Akin said.
Keith Compton, sophomore, purchased a spot. He said it helped introduce him to the “craziness” of what parking will be like next year.
“It just gives them a good little preview of what will be happening next year,” Compton said.
Compton said the opening of new spots could benefit the school as a whole.
“I think it’s a good idea for the school to make some more money,” Compton said. “It’s a good opportunity overall for everyone, I think.”
“Maybe give juniors the opportunity to apply for a closer spot before they put the sophomores in senior spots.”
— Lucy Mercurio
Not every student is excited about the new spots, however.
While Lucy Mercurio, junior, has always found it challenging to get out of the student parking, she said it has become especially difficult now.
“I’ve noticed that the lines are backed up trying to get out of the parking lot a lot more,” Mercurio said.
Mercurio said while the system is a good concept, offering spots to underclassmen should be revised if applied in the future because the senior spots are premiere spots.
“Maybe give juniors the opportunity to apply for a closer spot before they put the sophomores in senior spots,” Mercurio said.
