Printing, Parking, and Working Areas
Over the last year or so, I've noticed a huge lack in parking availability, free printing locations that are convenient, and places to work on homework in many buildings.
As for parking, I know we are currently in the process to build a parking structure, but for people who are in their last year or two at Mines, that doesn't do anything for us and we are paying for something we most likely won't ever use. There should be some solid interim solutions to alleviate this situation, like reducing pay-to-park prices (I have to pay to park at least one time a week because there aren't any parking spots available after 8 AM...) or making sure long-term parking isn't taking place. For example, there's been a few cars in the Q lot for a solid 2 weeks and at least one doesn't even have a permit! How is it that people get away with that when we have people giving out tickets every day?
For printing, I sincerely think the printer in the computer commons should be free. Students pay a fee for computers, software, and maintenance, but we haven't had new computer systems in the 3 years I've been here or any new software that I've ever had to use (I know this isn't true for everyone, but there are a lot of students I know that are in this boat with me). If we have a fee for computers, it should include printing, especially when the cost of that printer itself and the toner would be offset greatly by all of the students paying the ~75 dollar fee every semester.
Finally, quite a few areas on campus don't have very good options for study spaces. In Marquez, aside from the study rooms, there are no tables suitable for writing or using a computer comfortably. In Alderson, there are only two tables to use in the main lobby, and one small table on floors 2, 3, and 4 next to windows that get pretty cold in the winter. This issue is found in Berthoud, Green Center, Stratton, Chauvenet, and often in Brown because of the amount of use it gets. The school could have used the money it spent on those useless directional signs around campus on tables (we can all use a map to get around this small campus).
I think many students would agree that there are some serious issues with money allocation at Mines and the need for change in these subjects.