By Jesse Fries
As you have likely heard this year’s freshmen class is larger, smarter and sexier than you. They bring ACT scores that trump the national and state average and 50 more members than last year’s class. The University of Louisville has approximately 2600 freshmen this year, 62 percent of whom live in campus residence halls which hold 3300 students.
After repeated years of incoming freshman class growth, it’s easy to see why The Louisville Cardinal reported students living in study lounges.
The University has lagged behind in providing housing, but promises to expand housing opportunities in the next few years. While on-campus housing is almost a crisis, it is not the only issue that comes from rising enrollment rates. Campus infrastructure is seeing levels of traffic it is not accustomed too.
Parking lots are routinely near or past capacity, bike racks are packed so tightly it can be difficult to get bikes out and hallways and sitting areas are also crammed.
Sometimes it can feel like one is passing through Mammoth Cave’s Fat Man’s Misery as you squeeze through door and hall ways full of students. More benches, tables and seating areas on campus would encourage folks to enjoy the outdoors, rather than clog hallways by sitting in them.
Eating can be a hassle as well. With the Student Activities Center as the main game in town, it can get quite crowded during peak lunch and dinner hours. Lines seem to stretch for miles and I personally have been late to meetings and classes because of long lines delaying eating. And nobody likes delay eating, trust me!
With thousands of commuter students, U of L has an obligation to provide adequate parking space. More open lots in the campus area would ease the fierce competition for scarce spots and a more frequent shuttle service would ease student’s fears of potential tardiness caused by parking in the purple lot.
As more students bike to school because of rising gas prices, there is also an obligation to provide bike racks as well. More bike racks in front of campus buildings, especially dorms and class areas would ease congestion and likely decrease occurrences of bike theft and vandalism.
Students can also do their part. As sidewalks become increasingly more packed in between classes, stop pretending you’re Mad Max in the Thunderdome and step off the bike. You’ll get cursed at much less and you won’t have to bob and weave through traffic. Folks in sitting areas can just take one seat, instead of sprawling out all of their belongings across the area. When you park your car, just take one spot!
While we continue to grow as a city, university and community all parties involved should do their part. Perhaps in the future, buildings can be expanded, but unfortunately that requires tons of money that only UK seems to ever get from the Kentucky legislature.
As U of L continues to adjust to more residential students, we as students must be patient and respectful of those around us. We can ease traffic in campus buildings, use manners, and maybe solve a real issue like world peace.
