During a Student Government Association meeting, UTRGV’s Parking and Transportation Services asked for input about future changes and students asked SGA members to help improve dining hall services.
Josue Puente, a graduate student pursuing a master’s degree in Mexican-American Studies, said it is a bit odd how the dining hall no longer offers to-go food. Puente has friends who have a dining plan and are sometimes unable to use the dining hall due to its limited operational hours.
On-campus residents are required to purchase at least a minimum meal plan each semester, according to the UTRGV Department of Housing and Residence Life.
“We should allow students to [have] food to go. … SGA should get involved because it affects student life and students’ well-being,” Puente said during the Aug. 31 SGA meeting.
SGA member Alexandra Smith-Macias, senator at large for Edinburg and chair of the senate, said the campus life and community affairs committee will look into Puente’s concern.
Anthony Rivera, a mass communication senior, also spoke about the dining hall change.
“We weren’t notified that we weren’t going to have to-go plates. So, my first day here, I had a class, and I had no time to eat at the dining hall,” Rivera said. “And yesterday, one of my classes is right at the time dinner is at, so, I didn’t get to eat dinner yesterday.”
Rivera also said he has a friend who has never used the dining hall plan despite its required purchase, “because [Dining Hall’s] schedule doesn’t go with his class schedule.”
Gabriel Zuñiga, director of transportation services, discussed the Star Shuttle and expansion of other operations.
Zuñiga along with Letty Benavides, UTRGV’s associate vice president for campus auxiliary services, also responded to questions asked by students.
“No new services were provided. Why was there a price increase and so exponentially high? … Yet, on the UTRGV website, enrollment has increased and tuition has increased along with it. So, can we please get some financial transparency? … How can we access that transparency?” asked Roxana Carrion, a graduate student in English, referring to parking.
Benavides replied, “The revenue that is generated is solely off of the permits and citations that are associated with the service itself,” she said.
She also said $1.2 million has been spent on police and security, including cameras and patrol officers.
“What we are looking at, as far as technology is concerned, is we’ve been looking at parking lot counters,” Benavides said.
She explained the parking lot counters would track how many vehicles are in and out of parking lots. They will also allow students to know how many parking spaces are available. Benavides hopes the addition will help students spend less time circling around parking lots.
“The peak class times are 8 o’clock, 9:25 and 10:50 [a.m.],” Benavides said. “At that time, 44 percent of classes are being held. Students are in classes at that time. The next time then is at 1:40. Between those four times, we’ve got over 60 percent of the classes filled … any time of the week, Monday through Thursday.”
Benavides said students who arrive early can find parking.
“I have a niece that comes in at 8 o’clock in the morning, and she has no trouble finding parking,” Benavides said. “If you come at 10, you’re not going to find it.”
She recommended that students who are looking for parking at 10 a.m. buy Zone 1 parking and use a shuttle to go closer to classes.
Rodney Gomez, the executive director of Parking and Transportation, also attended the meeting and answered questions.
“There’s a little over 11,000 total [parking spots] on both campuses,” Gomez said.
Zuñiga confirmed there are two permits sold per parking space.
“We are a low-income university,” Puente said. “…You work for people with low-income wages. You work for people who have to find a way to come here. … A $100 for us is a lot because it is $100 that we do not have for books. … You’re blaming us for not being able to park in Zone 1 … We are people who work two or three or four jobs a day. Our schedules are not set up, sometimes till the day before. … You’re telling me that I have to park early and far away. … For many students, that’s not available. For many students, that’s a luxury that they do not have.”
Zuñiga said the department is planning on doing further outreach.
“It’s up to all of us to do our part, and you all have to communicate with us what it is that you want. That’s why we’re here today,” he said.
Toward the end of the meeting, the senate approved the Fiscal Year 2019 SGA Operating Budget, which totals $30,492. The budget includes $2,250 for senate meetings, $2,850 for initiatives and $2,850 for signature events.
For more information, visit https://www.utrgv.edu/parking-and-transportation-services/ or email transportation@utrgv.edu and parking@utrgv.edu.
