Citrus student Emilio Pichardo typically buys a day pass when he arrives on campus. Yet he still faces the issue of receiving a citation.
“All I did was follow the rules, and now I have to pay hundreds of dollars,” Pichardo said.
Pichardo, like many students, was advised to appeal his citation if he felt his ticket was unwarranted.
“The Campus Safety officer who I spoke to was like, ‘You know, that’s completely our fault. Just go ahead and appeal them and we’ll get rid of those for you,’” Pichardo explained.
The result of those appeals, Pichardo said? “They all got denied back-to-back-to-back.”
He said his appeals were accepted around the same day he was going to speak to the Board of Trustees about the issue on May 16, which he found suspicious.
Campus Safety patrols the Citrus College parking lot 24/7. Students faced challenges with the parking machine and the citation appeal system.
History professor Senya Lubisich and dance instructor Renee Liskey have offered to pay the citations of students who have received a parking citation.
Both professors are keenly aware of a problem students encounter. That problem has to do with the decision to go to class or fix their parking issue. Some students pick class, but at the cost of a citation fee that starts at $35.
The citation costs build up for students and now, they are speaking up about the issues alongside faculty to improve the campus experience.
Pichardo does not need to purchase the semester pass because he does not visit the campus often, so he buys a day pass instead.
Yet, he is not the only one who has dealt with these types of issues.
“Patrons who are coming to see our students perform are getting tickets,” Lubisich said. “People who are coming to get their haircut at cosmetology are getting tickets. People who are bringing their kids to play sports at Citrus are getting tickets.”
However, the regulation results from Campus Safety’s attempt at keeping everyone safe.
Campus Safety Director Ben Macias said in an email, “Campus Safety is committed to supporting our students, faculty and staff.”
Macias said he has not heard any concerns regarding parking regulations being strict.
“No reports from our ASCC (Associated Students of Citrus College) representatives or shared governance representatives have been presented for discussion at our Physical Resources and Safety Committee meetings during parking or safety updates,” Macias said.
Regardless, the Academic Senate has a workgroup that is exclusive to parking and the issues involved with it.
Macias did not respond to specific questions about this group.
Students have referenced Campus Safety as sharks circling the parking lot. Pichardo added to this sentiment and said Campus Safety is there to “protect” the students, yet the students are the ones in trouble.
“Keeping the campus safe from what? From us?” Pichardo said.
Likewise, the regulation caused an issue bigger than just a citation.
Liskey said the unapproachability issue that Campus Safety has created is making a direct impact on the culture of the campus.
“All aspects of this campus should be welcoming,” Liskey said. “And I find that our parking situation and Campus Safety in general is lacking in that area.”
However, creating a culture while keeping the campus safe is possible, according to Lubisich.
She said to accomplish that, there needs to be communication, which she said Campus Safety does not have with students and faculty.
Pichardo said Campus Safety is unwilling to talk to students.
The lack of communication does not end with students, as faculty also has trouble contacting Campus Safety.
“I just feel like we’re not working together,” Liskey said. “Campus Safety is not working with the faculty to try to figure out ways to make this a welcoming environment for our students.”
Moreover, students of all circumstances try their best to make it to class. Lubisich said the effort students make to show up on campus is courageous.
She said the students who find a way to get into class are being underestimated by the system.
However, the complaints and concerns indicate the eagerness to improve campus life.
Liskey said she remains hopeful that the situation will improve. As a former student, she said she loves Citrus College.
“I’ve been on this campus since I was 18 years old,” Liskey said. “It’s important to me, it’s important to me that students are welcomed, and that this is a place I want to create a place for my students.”
