As the price of a parking permit for next semester seemingly stays at $250, students have continued to voice their discontent to Samford’s administration.
Emilia Horton is one of these voices, having started the petition for Samford to reduce the price of parking badges, now having 2,700+ signatures.
“Really, I just wanted to see where it would go and hopefully the administration would see it and it would sway their decision.” Horton said, regarding this petition.
Horton was able to meet directly with Dr. Colin Coyne, Samford’s Vice President for Finance, Business Affairs and Strategy.
“Dr. Coyne explained the financial and administrative issues in simple language that someone with little financial background would be able to grasp.” Horton said. “He appreciated that I was doing something about the issue instead of lying down and taking it like most students often do.”
A common frustration for students is the sudden nature of the parking increase.
“He was understandably frustrated with how the administration had failed to notify students of this monumental increase and instead tried to hide it among the other numbers in the financial report.” Horton said.
Horton, passionate about this issue and voicing student discontent, also said, “I believe that the awareness portion of this cause has run its course but it’s vital that we do not let it get swept under the rug as this is likely what the university wants.”
Horton expressed frustration in the way that the decision is being further discussed.
“Unfortunately, the university seems rather set in their decision.” Horton said. “The way that they have routinely dismissed our concerns and have refused to give us clear answers to where our money is going is quite disappointing.”
SGA is another prominent voice on this issue, having met with Dr. Coyne and trying to have Coyne attend a senate meeting to communicate directly with students before hosting an open town hall. SGA invited Coyne to the two previous senate meetings, and he was unable to attend.
SGA had planned on having Coyne attend the senate on Tuesday, April 8, occurring after this article was written. Senate’s Campus Services Committee recently met privately with Coyne, discussing steps forward regarding communication with the student body. Grace Lyons, president of the Senate, again repeated SGA’s mission at last week’s senate meeting.
“It is our job to advocate for student interests and concerns,” said Lyons.
Lyons continued to encourage students to fill out constituent reports. She also took time in the senate meeting to walk through the process of constituent reports and noted a surplus of students filling out reports.
SGA hopes to see Coyne attend a senate meeting and host an open town hall.
Both Lyons, on behalf of the senate, and Horton have communicated the desire of students to communicate directly with administrators regarding this issue.
I was personally able to attend the previous two senate meetings and will have attended April 8th’s senate meeting at the time of this article’s publication. More information will continue to be released as this situation develops.
Staff Writer
