As a senior at ULM, it seems that every year there is an increase in tuition and fees to cover the cost of various expenses.
Many students have shown their distaste of the increased cost.
Most would agree that some increase in tuition is necessary to lessen the load of expansion and renovations, but along with this years’ tuition increase was an increase in parking ticket prices from $10 to $50.
As a student, I feel this is ridiculous when most of the tickets that are given out are to students who live on campus.
Returning students of the spring 2012 semester are already sharing in university cost with a tuition increase over $500, not to mention the new cost to renew a parking tag.
In addition, students are charged an extra $40 per ticket to park in an area near to where we reside.
Along with increased parking ticket fees, the cost of parking tags have also increased this semester from $50 to $100.
It seems to me there should be a substantial surplus of revenue available this semester that was not last semester without the need to increase parking ticket fees.
If the university is still in need of revenue, even after tuition and fees increases on students, then methods should be aimed to target other sources rather than students to cover cost.
I understand that university police must stimulate revenue to support the department, but it shouldn’t be at the expense of students who have already shared in the cost of the university’s expenses.
University police should aim to focus on traffic violations as a means of revenue instead of increasing parking ticket prices.
It would increase traffic and pedestrian safety as well as focusing on the general traffic on campus rather than campus residents.