City disregards University’s needs

The college town. Every institution of higher learning has one surrounding its campus’ boarders. And every college or university hopes to pride itself on a supportive community backing its growth and expansion.

But that simply is not the case in La Verne.

The university of La Verne has been proud to announce an increasingly larger undergraduate population over the last few years. With that comes an acceptance that certain things will change.

In this case, the ever constant issue of university parking has shown its ugly face once again.

This week, the La Verne City Council voted 3-0 to prohibit ULV students from parking on Third Street between A and B streets.

The concern was raised from 12 residents who in the Inland Valley Our Times said, “constant traffic, noise, trash and exhaust fumes in front of their homes,” was a result of students parking in front of their residences.

So now, as it stands, there are 12 La Verne residents with pastoral, smogless yards and countless ULV students who will be out of luck if they are running late to class.

The problem is coincidental, but the issue is typical.

The essence of the “all-American college town” has always been a struggle within the city limits of La Verne.

Most decisions, whether made by planning or city council, seem to give off a “those darn college students” sentiment rather than a “glad you’re here” feeling.

In 1998, the city passed an ordinance disallowing students from parking on B Street between Third Street and Bonita Avenue. The reasons were similar, and so were the results for the students.

It becomes a difficult task for students to call ULV their home when the surrounding community prefers to limit their presence.

The city of La Verne does not seem to concern itself with the convenience of those affiliated with ULV. With 112 years of existence and approximately 1,200 traditional undergraduate students, it is little wonder that they are finding it difficult to dismiss the University’s needs.

And Marcy Garcia, administrative assistant for the ULV International Student Center, who will soon be prohibited from parking in front of her workplace, does not hesitate to say, “Without the University of La Verne here, the city would not be where it is.”

The University will continue to grow as it has for the past century. The city will soon need to realize that it is quite possible for the needs of 1,200 students to outweigh their intent to try and guarantee residents clean air and quietness in Los Angeles County.

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Unsigned editorials represent the opinion of the Campus Times Editorial Board.

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