Alongside a new campus and the status of upperclassmen, NC brings the sweet bliss of not having to ride the bus anymore and of not needing to arrive to school hot and sweaty from a lengthy walk. Whether carpooling with friends or driving solo, the luxury of being able to get oneself to and from school cannot be overstated.

Unfortunately, the parking situation at LT is abysmal. The furthest section of student parking is a mile away, a 12-minute walk. Paying $200 for a parking spot seems like a poor investment, considering you may need to walk from Willow Springs Road and cross the train tracks. When students have attempted to park on side streets, neighbors sometimes call police to have their cars towed. The issue has elevated to the point that dozens of LT students have contacted families who live near NC to pay to park in their driveway during the school day.

The entire problem stems from the fact that LT was built in 1888, when the first automobile had just been produced three years earlier. Cars were the last thing on anyone’s mind, but ever since the late 1980s, LT administration has received flack on the lack of availability.

Renting out spaces at St. John’s Lutheran Church is a potential solution. St. Johns could probably donate at least a few spots from their typically empty lot, and turn a profit for themselves in the process.

Taking the grassy area behind the lot next to the Vaughan building and simply expanding the lot is an option, though before the idea could grow it was shot down due to interference with physical education curriculum. It has resurfaced over the years, and administrators hold out hope that it may still be a viable option in the future. Even though it wouldn’t open up enough availability for everyone; the only way to do that would be a full blown parking garage, paid for with bonds and/or future parking fees. But a parking garage in the middle of a suburban neighborhood is not only unaesthetic, but a hassle for students and residents as construction would be a multi-month process.

Everyone has a reason they deserve the best spot- they live the farthest, they work after school, they have to rush to SC for a club or sport. For this reason, very little factors into receiving a parking pass. The only advantage there is applies to seniors, who are allowed to enter a lottery of 30 spots in the parking lot. While this is a definite senior perk, it doesn’t help the students who still have to walk a mile their car.

There isn’t an easy or quick solution to the problem at hand. More space won’t magically appear in suburban LaGrange. We’re already hoping the administration takes action, seeing the students struggle daily and pursues a new solution that would align the students’ wants with those of Lagrange residents. In the meantime, we have nothing left to do but bundle up; cold winter treks are right around the corner.