Luther College - Parking

Quick Stats

College Prowler Take

As the student quotes suggest, parking at Luther can be a bit of a pain. While it may be that Luther actually has enough parking spaces for all the cars that need them, these lots are often so inconveniently located or reserved for faculty/alumni that a lot of student cars will spend a lot of time parked on the streets. This is notoriously bad for students in Larsen, which has a pathetically inadequate parking lot for the students it houses, and around Christmas at Luther, when the College basically banishes student cars to the most remote corner it can find to make room for the crowds. Other dorms have better facilities, but parking can still be a bother.

However, this isn’t a huge problem since campus—and Decorah as a whole—is small enough that almost anything can be reached without a car, and most students will only use theirs to travel on weekends. But what seems like a minor annoyance can be compounded in no time by the SPO cops. A lot of students, especially during the day, don’t want to take the time to find a legitimate spot, and if you do this, it’s a near guarantee that you’ll get a fine, and appealing it isn’t always successful. Similar problems occur in winter, when cars won’t start or get plowed in due to snowfalls. The SPO cops have no sympathy for your car stuck in a professor’s spot due to ice and cold temperatures, and you’ll probably get a ticket for having your car in a snow removal zone, as well. The biggest way to avoid a headache from parking is to be smart and realistic. If you bring a car, be aware that you may be signing up for a hassle and plan accordingly.

Free Profile Tools

Do I Stand A Chance?

Calculate YOUR chances of admission at every school CP covers!

__%

Personality Match

Calculate YOUR personality match with every school CP covers!

__%

What'll It Cost Me?

Estimate your out-of-pocket costs at every school CP covers!

$__,___

Students Speak Out

Anonymous says:

Parking on campus is a pain. The... Parking on campus is a pain. The lots were designed for the flattest areas, which coincidentally are farthest away from the dorms. 12345 Parking Report

Anonymous says:

Parking is fine. There are always... Parking is fine. There are always spots somewhere to park, but you have to watch for SPO cops! Right now being on College Apartments I find myself getting tickets a lot because I park in the general parking area, but I have to if I want to go to the library or anywhere else on campus. 12345 Parking Report

Anonymous says:

When people outside the Luther... When people outside the Luther community come to park on campus during an event or concert, they get priority over the students who’ve paid to park there the whole year. There are so few parking spots that it’s a huge inconvenience to try to move your car, or go anywhere during something like Christmas at Luther—you might not find any spots on campus when you get back. I don’t know why taking care of alumni is more important than the students who are actually still attending the College, and often putting on or participating in the events that the alumni come back to watch. 12345 Parking Report

Anonymous says:

The campus police dish out parking... The campus police dish out parking tickets liberally, so make sure you park within all the rules and regulations or you’ll get slapped with fine after fine. Making students pay money for minor parking issues seems to be the SPO cops’ favorite job. 12345 Parking Report

Anonymous says:

Parking is pretty limited. I... Parking is pretty limited. I don’t think there are enough spaces to accommodate all students and faculty in need of parking. It’s also very expensive to get a parking pass. Most schools around us give them to students for free. 12345 Parking Report

Did You Know?

All parking lots are student lots, but some have certain restrictions. Most have a side set out specifically for teachers, and the Preus Library lot sets out two rows for commuters and teachers. Students are also never allowed to park on the hills next to most of the dorms, as those are spots for faculty until after 4 p.m.

Best Places to Find a Parking Spot:
Most students park in the lots closest to their dorms, with the vast majority of cars going to the Preus Library lot and the Regents Parking lot, directly below Towers.

Good Luck Getting a Parking Spot Here:
If you live in Larsen, good luck ever getting a spot. Not only does the College have inadequate spots for the number of students living in that dorm, many students often have to move their cars for events, or every few days if they’re parked on a town residential street.

Most Recent Contributing Author

Name: William Morris
Hometown: Wausau, WI
Major: English (with minor in Secondary Education)

Fun Fact: William sings and plays violin in the Luther ensembles

Contributing Author Internship

College Prowler is actively seeking talented students to be "Contributing Authors," and assist with updating the College Prowler guide to their school. This is a great opportunity for a student to gain internship experience, be a part of a nationally recognized company, gain tremendous exposure, utilize new media techniques, and share advice with high school students about what life is really like at your college. Read more about the internship.