Robert Garber, Pierce College president
Dear Roundup, I was sorry to see a misstatement in the article about the construction project in Parking Lot 1. The fact is that there are more student spaces being added than staff spaces.
The total addition is around 130 spaces, with 70 more student spaces and 60 more staff spaces. I’m disappointed by this error since it conveys the impression that we don’t care about students and the concerns regarding parking, when in fact adding student parking has been our primary objective.
For example, Lot 8 added over 700 new spaces for students. Plus, we have continued to develop the temporary lot just below the Performing Arts Building with nearly 250 spaces. Obviously there is never a good time to close a parking lot when we’re operating a full campus all year long, but the timing for Lot 1 is our best option.
It will be completed before the start of the spring semester and the new lot and traffic flow will make Lot 1 more safe and more usable. On the other note about students with disabilities, anyone with a legal handicap placard can park anywhere on campus, including staff lots, so there should be ample parking available. In addition, the college is providing a shuttle van that is able to drop students anywhere they need to go on campus.
Again, this has been done in an effort to accommodate students and eliminate any obstacles to attending classes. Students with disabilities can also check with the Special Services office for any additional mobility assistance. Today I parked in Lot 8 and enjoyed a beautiful walk across campus. I hope others will take this temporary inconvenience and turn it into a positive experience. Sincerely, Robert Garber, PresidentPierce College