Low-Emission Parking Spots by Slayter Box 8662

Last week I noticed a small change on campus. I was hoping that it was a joke or some sort of experiment, but as it has not changed, I can only assume it is real. I noticed next to a single handicapped space in the lot behind Ace Morgan Theatre, three “reduced emission vehicles only” spaces.I find this a slightly disturbing and rather heavy-handed gesture. To offer special accommodations for low-emissions vehicles is inherently unfair and discriminatory. I’m not sure what they are designed to accomplish. Is it expected that people will buy more low-emission vehicles for the parking space? Do they expect that people will not be motivated by tax incentives, government programs, environmental propaganda, or the promise of improving global climate, but will somehow be swayed by the offer of a spot nearer to the door of a college theatre? I sincerely doubt this bold move will ignite a new social trend of environmental responsibility.. What is more disturbing however, is the subtext of economic discrimination and social elitism. I would love to own a low-emissions vehicle, the reason I don’t is that I cannot afford one. We are giving special privileges to people because of how they decide to spend their wealth. There is no physical difference between myself and someone that has a low-emissions car, they are not any more or less mobile than I simply because they own a low-emissions car, the only difference is they have the money to afford this car. We are rewarding rich people for spending money on things we judge to be good. Why don’t we have parking for people that give money to charity or practice sustainable living? I know, we could make a list of all of our global issues, rank them by importance, and then organize parking accordingly. We could cover global warming, poverty, donations to cure disease, donations for education and social programs, and at the very back we’ll put the people that are either greedy, or not rich enough to afford all these lofty donations. I’m not sure where people with canes, crutches, or wheelchairs would fall in this, but we can squeeze them in somewhere. After all, the most important thing is to display our political and social awareness. That’s the real problem here. These signs aren’t about social change, these signs aren’t about trying to actually help anyone, they are simply a small, petty symbol of how progressive and socially aware we are. They are a useless trumpeting of our liberal and well-rounded global education. There is nothing wrong about promoting that which one feels strongly about, there is nothing wrong with fighting for global issues or trying to promote change, but there is something wrong when a gesture is made simply for effect, when it has no little to no chance of helping anyone or promoting any change, and when it is enacted out of pride at the expense of others.Oh, and parked in the spot…an SUV.