Parking dysfunction follows storm

 

Pat Gareau

Editor-in-Chief

Despite the best efforts of the college, students still found difficulties driving and parking on campus on Tuesday. Snow was piled high around the lots from clearing Monday’s storm, which caused a school closure, and the lines still weren’t visible for parking spots.

Because of this, some students didn’t realize that they were parking in spots that trapped in other cars. Lot C, off of South Dr., had to be closed for almost an hour so that students could be contacted and the congestion cleared.

“We do the best we can with the winter conditions,” said director of Public Safety Fred Aliberti.

No cars were towed on Tuesday, which was in part due to the college’s towing contractors being busy, since the entire region was blanketed in snow. However, last Friday, three cars were towed because they blocked in other cars.

An email sent by Public Safety to Hudson Valley students read, “When parking, fresh snow will obscure parking lines so please PARK Straight and DO NOT block each other.”

The college is contracted with Dawson’s Body Shop and Towing and Kennedy’s Towing and Auto Repair for towing services, according to Aliberti.

After Tuesday, parking lot conditions posed fewer problems over the rest of the week. “They’ve been out there the past couple mornings doing the best they can and it’s been much better, I must say,” said Aliberti.

“We try to monitor the lots … to clear up the blockages as we call them,” he said.

Shortly after the parking lot was cleared and reopened on Tuesday, a few students handled a campus driving problem without any help from Public Safety.

Right next to lot C, on South Dr., Hudson Valley student Mitch Hayes slid off the road and was stuck in the pile of snow on the side of the road over two feet high.

“These roads are shitty, man. It was either hit that kid or go into the snowbank,” said Hayes, who swerved into the bank after beginning a slide toward another car.

Fortunately for Hayes, another student saw him and decided to help. Justin Ellworth hooked up a chain to Hayes’s car and pulled it out with his Jeep.

“I just saw him and decided to help,” said Ellsworth.

“It meant the world, honestly. It saved me a lot of time and hassle,” said Hayes.