Parking. It is one of the most, if not the most, frustrating problems at college, and no one ever talks about it. Since I started going to university, I definitely notice that there are some things that people don't mention but that really play into the idea that universities are money-making schemes: textbooks, parking, and meal plans are all crazy expensive!
The idea that we spend thousands and thousands of dollars per semester only to have to walk at least half a mile to the nearest parking lot really gets me fired up.
I know, I know. First world problems. But when I am constantly hearing stories of people getting expensive parking tickets because their car was still parked in a lot at 7:02 a.m. on a Monday morning (when all cars with the cheap parking passes have to be gone at 7 a.m.), it seems a little ridiculous.
I am fortunate enough to not need my car, so it may seem spoiled to complain about a privilege. But while my complaint is founded on one of convenience, for many who have obligations at home, who have jobs and other responsibilities, it seems a little capitalistic for universities to nickel and dime their students to such a degree.
And while this article is more about parking, I think this one situation speaks to the nature of a lot of institutions in the United States that care more about profit margins than individuals. There has long been a discrepancy in this country of access to education, and little instances like that show this.
I don't have any solutions, but what it comes down to for me is the human profit. When we do good for goodness' sake, economic profit will follow. So I would encourage any universities and companies to remember what their core values are so they can foster an even more productive and caring community.
But it isn't just on the universities and on the workplaces; it's on each and every human being. If we all change our attitudes to be a little more on the humanitarian side, we can spark an entire paradigm shift. We have to stop seeing each other as tools to use in order to achieve our own selfish goals and realize that every action we make has consequences on every other human being on the planet. That isn't an exaggeration.
So maybe what started as one college student's selfish desire for a shorter walk to her car has now become an acknowledgment that we all need to work harder to look out for each other. This cruel world is cruel for a reason, and I'm sorry to say a lot of that stems from institutionalized attitudes. But just like culture and traditions aren't static, neither are these harmful perspectives. So let's make a change together to practice kindness, especially when it doesn't benefit us in any way to be kind!
