To all my teachers this semester: If I am tardy for class at all, be assured it is not because I hit snooze too many times, or that I did not plan on the morning traffic, or even that I spent a little extra time in the shower that morning. If I am late to class, I guarantee it is because I am circling campus hunting for a parking spot.

I spent my first week of school parking in the grass behind Egypt. I paid $85 for my parking pass and was not able to use it the entire first week. So what was I paying for?

As if having to park in the grass wasn’t bad enough, I was told that one of my friends received a ticket last week for parking in the grass. This was after she had to park at Baskin-Robbins on 31-W the day before. Apparently, Western can fine students for their own shortcomings.

Before last year, we had that nice new parking structure to look forward to, and it was great. So great that somehow there was a decrease in parking spaces for students. Success! This year, students returned to school to find a big chunk of the Bemis lot, a lot that was constantly filled, taken away for faculty parking.

I have no doubt in my mind that later this semester, and also next semester, the department of parking and transportation will hold their meeting where they “give the students a chance to be heard on the parking situation.” The meeting itself is every bit as laughable as Western’s attempts to solve the parking problem. It is obvious that the forum is nothing more than a puppet show where someone sits in a room and listens to students and faculty whine, only to discard any thoughts that might have been presented.

Do us all a favor. Do not waste our time with meetings that you don’t care about. Do not patronize us by pretending to care.

Instead, do the right thing. Admit that the parking situation is out of control and that you don’t have even the slightest idea as to how to solve it.

Also, why should they ask us for suggestions on how to solve the parking problem? Isn’t that their job? Kind of gives you an idea as to how many ideas they have on the table. If I am supposed to come up with solutions, then perhaps they should pay me. The simple fact is that this is their job and they are not doing it.

The lack of action would get you fired from a lot of other jobs. However, as long as they keep raising the price of passes to drive down demand, then at least they are doing something right.

But like any good columnist, I’ll play their little game in voicing my opinion to make things better. I propose that we find a private company to buy land close to campus, build a massive parking structure and run it. They could charge an annual rent and charge just less than what students are paying to park in the grass. Hey, I would buy a spot.

Is it practical? No, but neither is taking half of a major student lot for more faculty parking.

So, raise your glasses and let’s all toast to the fine job done year in and year out to meet the parking needs of the students. You guys don’t work too hard over there in that house; trust me, you have done enough.

Simply put, parking officials have failed to meet the needs of their customers, the students. We have paid for a service that is not being provided and some people would say that defines the word “scam.”

Brandon Wilson is a senior news/editorial journalism major from Nashville.

The opinions expressed in this commentary do not reflect the opinions of the Herald or the university.