Parking at Northern Michigan University is a long-standing issue, and unfortunately, it continues to be a source of frustration for both students and staff. I’m not the first to bring this up, nor will I be the last, but it’s time for this problem to be addressed. The lack of parking is exacerbated by ongoing construction around campus, which has blocked off even more spots. Realistically, all I strive to achieve in this column is to bring awareness and maybe get people to do something about this issue.
First, I want to speak directly to my fellow students and staff. We need to speak up about this issue. I know I’m not alone in my frustration. If you leave a parking lot after 4 p.m., be prepared to spend at least 15 minutes searching for a spot. On one occasion, I timed it— it took me 34 minutes to find parking while circling three different lots. It’s incredibly stressful, and the situation only worsens when winter weather hits, making the walk from an off-campus spot even more unpleasant.
Now, I want to address NMU Parking Services and the NMU Police Department. There’s a recurring issue with ticketing students who park in lots that are technically “off-limits” during certain hours. I understand the need to keep certain lots reserved for specific uses, but when those lots sit empty after 5 p.m., it doesn’t make sense to ticket students who park there. I live in Spalding Hall, and the Wellbeing Center lot behind my dorm is practically empty after hours, yet I’m still forbidden from parking there once the center is closed for the day. In a place where parking is already limited, it’s unreasonable to ticket students for parking in underutilized spaces.
So, what can be done about it? I see two potential solutions that could alleviate some of the parking issues at NMU.
First, NMU should stop issuing tickets for parking in lots that are essentially empty after certain hours. If a lot is completely unused from 5 p.m. to 7 a.m., it makes no sense to prevent students from parking there. The lot’s purpose isn’t being compromised, and there’s no reason not to allow students to use it. This simple change could significantly reduce parking frustration, especially during evening and night hours when spaces are often unavailable or available but off-limits.
Second, NMU should work on expanding parking around residence halls or reconsidering the overly restrictive parking lots that are reserved for specific permits. Right now, many lots are restricted to students with certain parking passes, forcing others to drive around in circles looking for open spots. The problem is only getting worse as the student population increases. Instead of having fewer spots available for everyone, NMU should consider creating more accessible parking spaces or eliminating the specialized parking lots altogether.
I’m well aware that parking at NMU isn’t a new problem. In fact, I spoke with a graduate from the class of 2021, and she told me, “parking has always been a problem at NMU. It’s disappointing that four years later, it’s still something students have to deal with.” Her graduating class was around 900 students, and even they faced serious parking challenges. Now, the freshman class alone in 2023-24 was over 1,500 students, and the numbers have only continued to grow. If parking was already a problem for a class of 900, what will happen when the next class is over 1,700? How will NMU handle that?
It’s clear that this issue isn’t going away on its own. Students and staff need better solutions than just getting ticketed for spending a few extra minutes in an empty lot. NMU must address the issue now before it gets even worse. I’m not writing this to bash the university. I love NMU and the city of Marquette. But I believe that when you care about something, you’re allowed to criticize it, especially when that criticism can lead to positive change. By voicing our concerns, we can make it harder for the issue to be ignored.
In conclusion, parking at NMU is a problem that needs to be addressed, and it’s something that affects everyone. We need better solutions, whether that’s allowing students to park in unused lots after hours or creating more accessible parking options around residence halls. It’s time to stop wasting time driving in circles and dealing with tickets for empty spaces. Only by addressing this issue can NMU continue to be a place where students and staff can focus on what matters most: learning and working, without the added stress of parking struggles.
Editor’s Note: The North Wind is committed to offering a free and open public forum of ideas, publishing a wide range of viewpoints to accurately represent the NMU student body. This piece is a guest column, written by a Northern Michigan University student, faculty member, or community member. It expresses the personal opinions of the individual writer, and does not necessarily reflect the views of the North Wind. The North Wind reserves the right to avoid publishing columns that do not meet the North Wind’s publication standards. To submit a guest column contact the opinion editor at opinion.northwind@gmail.com with the subject North Wind Guest Column.
