Significant, conscious steps needed to ensure parking lot equity

Throughout winter, navigating the parking lot presented an increasing challenge for many students at West. What should be a simple, everyday task—finding a parking spot— turned into a daily obstacle. For those of us who have paid for parking passes, this issue was especially impactful. While weather-related challenges are inevitable here in Wisconsin, it’s important to address this topic thoughtfully to ensure fairness for everyone, particularly those who have invested in parking passes. 

For $45, students are promised a spot in the school parking lot, but a portion of the lot was occupied by large snow banks for much of the dreary winter. While the snow piles are necessary for road safety during winter storms, they unfortunately take up valuable parking spaces, making it harder to find an available spot. As a result, many students, despite having paid for passes, found themselves spending additional time circling the lot each morning or, even more frustratingly, parking on the street and walking a longer distance to the building in the cold.  

In addition to the snowbanks, there’s also the concern of students parking without valid permits. While many students have paid for a space, some students without passes are occupying spaces, seemingly without consequence. This understandably causes frustration for those who are following the rules. At its heart, this is a matter of fairness: ensuring that those who have paid for a spot are able to use it. 

It is appreciated that Principal Montour acknowledged this issue in the school newsletter this February. However, now that the snow has melted, it’s clear that the situation progressed to a point where meaningful changes for this school year are no longer feasible. Nonetheless, it’s important to recognize the frustration caused by these circumstances continues to affect students. 

Though this may seem like a small issue in comparison to national headlines, it affects all of us. It’s not just about convenience; it’s about respect and fairness. When we pay for something, we expect to receive what we’ve paid for. As students, we already have a lot to balance between our schoolwork and the challenges of daily life, and addressing this issue would go a long way in easing some of that stress. We all want what’s best for our school, and making sure the parking lot is accessible for all students would help our mornings start off with less frustration. 

There are a few potential solutions that could help resolve this issue. First, it would be helpful if the snow banks were cleared more efficiently or moved to areas that don’t block needed parking spaces. Second, more consistent enforcement of parking pass requirements would ensure that only students who have paid for a spot are using the lot, promoting fairness year-round—not just during the winter months when the issue is most prevalent. Alternatively, the school might consider reducing or even waiving the cost of parking passes to make parking more accessible and equitable for all students. By doing this, nobody feels as though they are wasting $45 on a useless parking pass.

Ultimately, we’re all just trying to get to school on time and succeed in our studies. Addressing the parking situation would show the school’s commitment to supporting students’ needs and fostering a positive environment. A small change in how the parking lot is managed could improve the school experience for everyone, reducing unnecessary stress and helping to prevent tardiness. After all, we’ve already paid for it.

by Anonymous Student

Published March 17th, 2025

Oshkosh West Index Volume 121 Issue VI