When students came back to school at the end of August, it was clear this year would not be the same. Many Vista La Verne residents have been jolted awake at 7 a.m. by the demolition for the parking structure starting this past week, only to be kept awake by the dawning realization that it is only going to get worse.
From the moment the emails started pouring into students’ inboxes notifying everyone about the situation and detailing exactly where parking was available, it was clear this was going to be the “Year of the Structure,” and not a very well thought out structure either.
Commuter students have taken the brunt of the new parking rules, but despite having a place to park on campus, residents are now being affected by the first phase of ULV’s “Parking Structure Era.”
Residents are expected to follow quiet hours between 11 p.m. and 8 a.m., which means students need to keep it down to respect their fellow students who may be sleeping. However, that courtesy apparently does not extend to the bulldozers, jackhammers and whatever other equipment a construction crew has on hand.
Why can’t construction have waited one more hour before starting? At least then some students are expected to be in class, and the quiet hours are lifted so students are not expected to keep noise to a minimum.
Construction of the parking structure is scheduled to last until after the current school year ends, so residents are now begrudgingly making this rude awakening a part of their daily morning routine.
It’s not like college dorms aren’t loud enough without a whole construction process going on right outside your window.
Perhaps housing can change the quiet hours to accommodate the construction’s early start time. It will not prevent the inevitable noise, but at least it would fall outside the expected quiet hours.
Commuter students have been forced to give up their parking spots on campus, and residents are apparently being forced to give up sleep, all with the thin consolation that we’ll have somewhere to put our cars next year.
Until then, Vista residents will have to expect to hear the droning of tools at work mixed in with their blaring alarms telling them it’s time for their morning classes.
It is certainly going to be a year of sacrifices, whether we want to make them or not. At least no one in Vista will ever miss an 8 a.m. class again.
Unsigned editorials represent the opinion of the Campus Times Editorial Board.
