Georgia Southern students petition for change over parking nightmare

STATESBORO Ga. (WTOC) - Georgia Southern students have created petitions through social media and are planning a protest about the lack of parking on campus.

Students say parking is an annoyance every year.... but this year some students say it’s nearly impossible to find a spot before class.

Some simply give up the search.

“I have friends who just don’t go to class because it takes too long to find a parking spot,” said student Anthony Driggs. “They just go back home,”

This year, the university hit a record number for enrollment on the Statesboro campus with 29,000 students compared to last year’s 27,000.

With this, students say the issue goes beyond the campus grounds and is affecting local businesses.

“Out of the main strip with Dingus, Dominos, a lot with Zaxby’s and most people, end up getting towed,” said senior Victoria Resto. “So, just trying to get to class you end up having to pay $250 dollars to get your car back.”

Resto is planning a protest for Friday, in hopes of reaching a solution with the transportation department.

This is for not only parking, but a petition pushing back against the university moving bus stops away from an off-campus housing complex called Cambridge.

“A lot of people chose Cambridge because a lot of the people there don’t have cars to be able to commute and because they are off campus, that’s kind of their only way of getting to class,” said Resto.

WTOC reached out to university officials who tell me that this change was made to prioritize student safety, so the bus stops are not in the way of heavy traffic.

Student Kayla Lewis tells me the parking lots themselves seem dangerous.

“In danger of getting hit because everyone is just speeding around the parking lot trying to find a parking spot before you...it’s just really bad,” said Lewis.

University leaders tell WTOC that the parking lots are designed to accommodate space availability.

As for future solutions they say quote, " We continue to evaluate student needs and available parking. At this time, there are no plans to create additional parking lots."