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Editor:
I am writing this to express my outrage at the Department of Parking and Transportation here at the U of A. Yes, this story is a true one, though you may not believe it. After my last class on Tuesday afternoon I walked back to my car which was parked in the Zone 1 lot just north of the Mountain underpass. After realizing that my battery was dead I resorted to asking anyone around who might be walking by if they could jump-start my car. Let me just say at this point that I am a 5-foot 5-inch female at about 115 pounds. I hardly pose a menacing figure so I must assume that everyone I asked for help did not feel threatened, simply apathetic. I also want to add that at the time I was pleading for help from strangers it was pouring rain.
Not one of the approximate 25 people I asked would help me. Finally I managed to wave down a Parking and Transportation vehicle patrolling the lot. After telling the man of my problem he replied, "I personally can't help you, but I can call the department and send someone out." From what I have been told, all Parking and Transportation vehicles carry jumper cables. I can only assume this guy felt jumping someone's car was below his Parking and Transportation duties. Itold him to please call and send someone right over. He gets on his radio and is told no one can come for at least an hour and a half. After this bit of info is related he cheerfully drives off.
Though the thought of waiting for someone for an hour and a half was very appealing to me, I decided to hike to the nearest phone and call UAPD. After the officer calls to find out what was going on, he was told it would take an hour and a half because the Parking and Transportation Department is in a meeting. Any quick guesses on what this meeting could be about? I would say probably a brainstorming session on more ways to charge students and make even more money. I pay $160 for my parking permit, far from the most expensive. I have also paid a considerable amount of tickets for parking in other lots when there were no spaces in Zone 1. Where are the services supposedly offered me for the money I pay?
Finally the officer says he will send a security guard over to help me. So I hike back to my car and wait another 45 minutes. Then I hike back to a phone and call the officer again, who informs me the security guard is now leaving. Of course by now the officer feels terrible because not only have I called him three times but I am in tears. Give me a break, I'm emotional.
And now, finally I get my car jump-started. When my car was found not to be working, it was 1:45 p.m. When I arrived at my home it was 4 p.m. I am disgusted with Parking and Transportation for leaving me stranded and even more disgusted with myself for trusting that after paying so much money to the university I would receive something in return. I suppose I am most appalled by the fact that the first Parking and Transportation employee chose not to help me with something that would only take five minutes. So thanks for nothing pal... and pray that you never get stranded at a money-hungry university where the employees won't help you and I am the only one with jumper cables.
Melissa Bishop
classics junior
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