As the year draws to a close, there has been one thing that has remained constant throughout the entirety of the return to campus. And that is the shocking state of the parking on main campus, a catastrophe that can be classified
as its own sporting event. The first event that takes place is finding a parking spot. Now finding parking is simple, the challenging part is finding parking that isn’t more than five hundred meters away from the nearest entrance. The added challenge of some students not knowing how to park their cars and claiming two spots also increases the difficulty. Then finally, SAPS steps up as the final hurdle and dishes out parking tickets for illegal parking and or expired license discs, may this serve as a reminder to check when yours expires. Now that a parking spot has been secured, the next event is equally as challenging, (depending on where you slot your car in). That is making it to the gate and into campus. On this journey, you will be faced with people clad in high visibility jackets rushing you and demanding money for a completely free parking spot. They do this under the guise that they’ll keep your car safe. But, ask yourself, would you risk stopping someone that might be potentially armed from stealing a car for loose change? Another added factor is the scorching sun that nearly melts the tarmac road. Then finally crossing the intersections on your way to campus. Here every approaching car is a question mark. Will they stop? Will they race past quickly? Or is this finally the time your jaywalking will make you pay dearly? Many other events are happening during this daily outing, such as having to watch, with disdain, as people live near enough to campus to simply walk in. Then also coming to terms with that there are no UP bus pick-up points near enough to walk to, thus meaning you have no other choice than driving. Finally, there is also the dread of knowing that when classes are over, you must not only make the journey back to your car, but also climb into the equivalent of an oven and make the trip back home. There are many things to be thankful for with the return to campus. Most things are fantastic, but the one dreaded experience that will not be missed over the up-and-coming holiday is the UP parking Olympics.
