It’s no secret that the parking here at City College is worse now than it has ever been since construction for the new parking structure has started.

I have had to continually get to the school as early as an hour and half beforehand to find parking and sometimes even getting here early doesn’t help.

Not only do we have to deal with other students looking for a place to park, but we also have to deal with other area businesses using the same street parking. Student lots are always full yet parking passes are continually sold. Why? They can’t possibly think all of us will find parking, so why sell them knowing this, and at the same price?

Plus, the lots where staff and students share parking have been repainted to accommodate staff and not students.

Again, why? Are teachers and professors more lenient with students who are late to class because of this problem?

What are the options here? Some of us can only get to class a few minutes before it starts. We have jobs, families, and other schools we attend. Finding parking should not be something we struggle to find. Yet it is. Granted, we can all look forward to the new structure being done in March of 2010, but until then, what logical choices do we have? Take the summer off? Take online courses?

Of course for those of us with the obstacles listed above, leaving any earlier is not an option, nor is parking in Balboa Park and walking, or even taking public transportation.

Online courses are definitely an option, but given the ones I have taken online, reaching teachers and professors is not an easy task. Nor is computer compatibility. If you have a MAC, good luck with any computer class.

You will find that most only lend themselves to PC programs. Maybe if we all took the summer off and the school lost precious dollars they would see the severity of the situation.

As for me, I think I will take the summer off. Maybe when I get back I will have become more patient with the parking and the students who sit waiting for a spot while they put on their makeup, and have their breakfast. You know who you are.