By Charles Louis Dominguez ’14
THE ROUNDUP

Starting at around 7 a.m. each morning, a wave of student drivers make their way on to campus.

The truly observant will notice that, with minor exceptions, the parking lot looks largely the same on a day-to-day basis.

Student drivers campus-wide said they have a sense of connectivity to the place they park each morning.

Reasons for this phenomenon differ greatly. While many opt for spaces that save them the most steps, others find deeper meaning behind their possession of a spot.

“I park in the same spot every day for some consistency in my life,” said Devon McCauley ’16.

The shear summer heat of the Phoenix metropolitan area makes shade another key factor in deciding where to park.

“There’s also a tree there, so I get a little bit of shade,” McCauley said. “I love the spot and the spot loves me.”

Proximity to the campus and ease of access are also important to students when they lay claim to a space.

“It’s right by my first class and it’s easy to leave from,” said Carter Santini ’15. “It’s a pull-through spot.”

For others, the decision to park in a certain spot comes from experience.

“I used to carpool with Jake Ward ’12 and he used to park in the spot I now park in,” said Van Cummerford ’14.

The tradition of parking in a specific space is not limited to students.

“I’m the first one here, so I get first choice,” said Mrs. Julie Thibodeaux. “I park across from the Colonnade which is close to where I start and end my day.”

Other students strategically plan out where they park based on class schedules.

“It’s the closest spot to where I start and end school,” said Ty Verdugo ’14.

By nature, it’s a possessive phenomenon and students often form a bond to their respective space.

“I felt betrayed,” Verdugo said of having his spot taken by a friend one morning.