Any Student at the University of Alabama knows that parking on Game Day is a hassle, to say the least. The mere number of people on campus on game day is a feat within its self. However the parking situation needs to change. There are limited options for students to park on game day. In addition the options available for parking on game day are not the same as regular parking for classes. What student parking is displaced by game days and what parking options are there are available for both displaced on campus students and off campus commuting students?
Both students living on and off campus are inconvenienced by game day parking regulations. For the on campus residents of Tutwiler Hall they required to move their cars by Friday afternoon to allow RVs to park in the Tutwiler parking lot. A new rule this year is that Colonial Drive, also known as Sorority Row, must be cleared by Friday afternoon as well (Parking Info 8). Since both of these residents are zone for Orange parking, this is going to make finding a parking spot close to impossible for the residence that live in Tutwiler and on Sorority Row. Thus, all of these displaced parkers will now be fighting for the same small number of parking spots available.
Parking is also a complex task for students who choose to live off campus. If off campus students want to park on campus on game day it is going to cost them. One option available for off campus students is parking at the soccer fields; however, they will need to purchase an addition parking pass costing $111.00 on top of their regular commuter parking pass (Parking Info 3). Let’s face it, how many college students can afford that? Besides the soccer fields are not even close to the stadium, so if students are planning on parking here they need to leave early to try to catch the shuttle. There is always the option of parking in a stranger’s front yard. This option will get commuters closest to the stadium, but this too is expensive. Most people are going to charge twenty to thirty dollars to park in their front yard and commuters could be parking in an unsafe area. Another option is to park at the University Mall and pay $10 and then take a shuttle onto campus, but what are commuters to do after the game when the shuttle stops running (Parking Info 15)?
This year, more so than ever, students are being inconvenienced on game days. The student body should be the administrations main concern. Without us, there would be no football, baseball, soccer, or tennis games. We deserve to be able to buy one parking pass that is always valid and we should not have to leave our houses hours early to try to hunt down an empty front yard to park in. The student body should demand more attention on game days. The tradition of excellence that exists at The University of Alabama is remarkable and something that everyone should get to experience, not just the lucky few that can find a parking spot. Reform is needed. Students should not be ignored and we should accept nothing but the best from this outstanding University.
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Mugshots
ReplyDeleteIf you ask any student around campus where to find a good burger, odds are Mugshots will be the answer. Mugshots is a local restaurant aimed at students on a college budget. Mugshots has transcended restaurant status, almost to an iconic level. Their famous sourdough bun and succulent all beef patties put their burgers above the competition.
Mugshots is located on Greensboro Avenue, in the heart of down-town Tuscaloosa. It has an unassuming front entrance that blends in with the surrounding establishments. When you walk in to Mugshots there is not much to impress, until the aroma of juicy burgers over powers your senses. When you smell the mixture of burgers, beer battered french fries, and fried pickles, you are sure to find something you like. However, you might think that this restaurant is going to be too expensive for a college student, but luckily you are wrong. Mugshots will not run you more than any other traditional sit down burger joint, with the majority of the burgers costing only $7.99. Of course, any self respecting burger joint should offer an overly filling burger gorging challenge and Mugshots is no different. For the challenge you have to eat the Mugshot burger, it consists of 3 half pound patties and loaded with lots of toppings. If you are able to finish the Mugshot burger within 12 minutes it is free, although if you are unable to finish the burger it will cost you $20.00. Not a bad price to pay for the opportunity to say you finished a pound and a half of an all American burger.
Their burgers are grilled to order and they come out hot and juicy. The burgers come with an assortment of toppings ranging from your standard bacon to more uncommon toppings such as 1,000 Island dressing or even peanut butter. According to their menu, the McDonald burger is a favorite, and for good reason. The McDonald burger is topped with bacon, cheddar cheese, ranch, barbeque sauce, and all the other standard trimmings for a burger fit for a king. Their burgers are the main draw to Mugshots, but they do offer a full assortment of sandwiches, salads, and appetizers for the picky eaters; along with a fully complemented bar.
One problem with Mugshots is the service, which is seems to be a common problem in college towns across the country. While every now and then you get lucky and can get a waiter that is attentive to your needs, however most of the waiters at Mugshots cannot even keep your drink full. Nevertheless everything else that mugshots has to offer will cause you to forget about the service, or lack thereof. Mugshots is what you would expect from any respected restaurant. The facilities are kept at an acceptable level of cleanliness, the burgers are phenomenal, and the ambience is great for a relaxed dining experience with some good friends. It’s always a good bet if you have people coming from out of town to show them a taste of Tuscaloosa, and there is no better place to do that than at Mugshots!