Seventh Story: Parking Lot Walk

Students brave the cold weather among other things when making the walk from their vehicles into the college here at ARCC and then on to their class.

On some days the walk may feel like no big deal to certain students. On other days, the college seems to be miles away for others. There are even times when students who arrive a little late are forced to park across the street before making their way in. So then arrives this question: Are you ever frustrated with the walking distance between your car and class?

Of the 20 students surveyed at ARCC, 63.2% say they are frustrated with the walking distance between their car and to their class. While 31.6% say it doesn't bother them and 5.3% say maybe.

What factors besides distance, annoys/affects students the most when walking to class? When asking this question, with the ability to answer more than one, 78.9% say that weather is the biggest annoyance. While being tired comes second at 42.1%, then laziness and stress come in at 21.1% and 5.3% respectively. Of those students that don't mind the walk at all, 36.8% answered in that way.

Students were then asked to elaborate some more while answering this question: No matter the idea, what suggestion would you give to the college itself to help shorten this walking distance? One student noted that "I don't mind walking, which is good for stress. But, walking in the bitter cold is horrible and makes me not even want to go to class. Also, I usually have heavy textbooks and a lot of stuff to carry inside, so the distance can be a challenge," they said. Other students don't think there's a need for additional help in cutting down the walking distance. "I say suck it up, bundle up, and be prepared to walk," one student said. "Make more parking around the sides of the college," another student suggested.

Most of the students participating in this survey suggested that weather is the biggest reason for irritating them when walking the distance from their car and onto class. Another student suggested that it becomes a little easier to park nearer to school as the semester goes on. "Its kind of hard in the beginning of the semester- but by the end of the semester when people drop or stop coming to class its not so bad!"