I noticed the La Trobe University car parking fee showed considerable bias towards the student Union. Many years ago I heard it was no longer compulsory to join the student Union which I felt was fair. People should have the choice to join or not join a Union in my opinion.
But if you check out the parking fees they fees appear to bias the situation towards students joining the Union. If you;re not a Union member you pay $230 a year. If you join the Union, which costs $100, you pay $140 a year. Now either it costs $140 for parking or it doesn't. There really is little reason for the two to be linked together. Also interestingly staff pay just $5 more for parking than students at $235. Whilst I'm not one for staff having to pay parking fees, if fees are charged, it doesn't quite seem fair for the difference to be $5.
Perhaps one day we'll see universities as models for our society. It didn't happen in my day and it still looks to be some time off.
What do you think? Do you feel there should be one fee for all, irrespective of their income? Do you feel unionism should be linked to the parking fees?
Kelvin Eldridge
http://www.justlocal.com.au/
tags: latrobe university, la trobe uni bundoora, latrobe uni bundoora
But if you check out the parking fees they fees appear to bias the situation towards students joining the Union. If you;re not a Union member you pay $230 a year. If you join the Union, which costs $100, you pay $140 a year. Now either it costs $140 for parking or it doesn't. There really is little reason for the two to be linked together. Also interestingly staff pay just $5 more for parking than students at $235. Whilst I'm not one for staff having to pay parking fees, if fees are charged, it doesn't quite seem fair for the difference to be $5.
Perhaps one day we'll see universities as models for our society. It didn't happen in my day and it still looks to be some time off.
What do you think? Do you feel there should be one fee for all, irrespective of their income? Do you feel unionism should be linked to the parking fees?
Kelvin Eldridge
http://www.justlocal.com.au/
tags: latrobe university, la trobe uni bundoora, latrobe uni bundoora
I have been a student at La Trobe University for five years, this year being my sixth and second year of my Masters degree. During this time I cannot help but notice that parking on campus has become increasingly difficult as each year passes.
ReplyDeleteConsidering the parking situation, the following issues become apparent:
1. Availability of carparks anytime the other side of 10am; no such thing.
2. While parking prices continue to increase, parking spaces continue to decrease with the old carpark 4 (gravel carpark) being closed to make way for new buildings.
3. While La Trobe parking prices are through the roof, students of RMIT Bundoora are able to park yearly on campus for approximately $60 (2010 rates) and I am told that parking availability issues are miniscule in comparison to La Trobe.
- The existence of daily ticket vending machines throughout La Trobe University car parks allows for any vehicle owner to park on University grounds. The sale of parking permits to students and staff on the belief that they will be able to park on campus without fear of receiving a parking infringement is undermined by the presence of these ticket machines since the number of vehicle owners able to purchase tickets is un-regulated.
- Lastly, I contacted the La Trobe parking office last year regarding the above issue after receiving an infringement notice and was told that I need to arrive at the campus earlier in order to obtain a park. This was of course absolutely ludicrous considering I travel 1hr via car each way and had no classes beginning before 12pm. Why on earth would I arrive at 8/9am when I may spend the time studying at home more effectively?!
They were also very guarded of information pertaining to the number of parking spaces available and the number of parking permits sold annually and would not divulge such information on each occassion that I contacted them.
It's evident that La Trobe will not consider changing any of their parking policies since it's clearly an easy money-grabbing scheme for the University. I could park just about anywhere else within the Darebin City Council for days on end without receiving an infringment notice yet I'm able to acquire one with ease in only an hour or so at La Trobe...
$$$$$$$
With regard to the link between the student union and the price of parking, it would appear that a cartel-like formation exists between the union and the parking office. At the end of the day, the benefits of the student union membership are minimal with discounted parking being the major drawcard.
It is also evident that the current state of affairs will receive no review or assessment without publication of the issue through media outlets as the student body simply has no power or desire to address the issue. I belive such an issue would be well received through talkback radio and as such I'll be contacting the various stations with a detailed issue outline in the coming week so keep your ears open!