Professor Williamson, the
writer of an eloquent letter in
the CD on the subject of
heavy-handedness in the
Department of Parking, should
know that poets are not the
only victims of our new and in
some ways admirable
efficiency.
Yesterday, a non-poet, or at
least his car, was singled out
for special treatment. I
certainly consider it very
special treatment to have my
own car towed away from my
own $100 numbered parking
space and to be forced to
retrieve it several miles away at
an additional cost of $15.
It is true that this was only
a small, battered car, just off
the boat from England, and
unlike my wife's large station
wagon had not been stickered
front and rear. In fact I was on
my way with the new stickers
when I discovered the car had
vanished.
This absurd misadventure
would have seemed more
humorous if the Parking Office
had been more courteous, but
even their discourtesy can be
forgiven in these hectic early
stages.
What must be changed is the
policy of towing away
unstickered cars when no
complaint has been lodged
Why shouldn't I have the right,
for instance, to let a visitor to
the University use my space for
a few hours?
For that matter, why
shouldn't I be able to lend my
space in an emergency to any
needy person without fearing
that his car will be lowed
away?
No doubt there are
bureaucratic answers to these
questions, but the answers will
not seem good enough to
sensible persons. Perhaps the
letter columns of the CD will
convey that message if mere
individual petitioners to the
Parking Office cannot.
E.D. Hirsch. Jr.
Professor of English
