The Smallness

[A.E]

<p>

@momof3sons

My S says that he walked to Genuardi’s all the time, ONE mile in each direction.
Maybe a 15 minute walk. No, he said, it was not convenient to carry lots of groceries for that distance, but he was never looking to stock up a kitchen. As to the Barnes & Noble, he agreed that it was quite a distance to walk there, but pointed out that there is a Border’s Book Store across from the Genuardi’s. Did he do these walks in the bitter cold in January? I’m guessing not. But he also did mention the campus shuttle to Genuardi and Target which ran twice a week. He graduated last June.

You’re totally right about Genuardi’s. The 2.0 miles is actually the round trip, only half of which would involve carrying groceries.</p>

<p>

@nngmm

My daughter is a senior, and not having a car has not been an issue so far.

Good for your daughter! Guess what, I’m not her. Why should I have no ability to park my car (short of running scams) for my first two years at Swarthmore (and then a massive hassle for the last two years) because not having a car is “no issue” for your daughter?</p>

<p>

@momof3sons

Did my S WANT to have a car at Swat, for convenience? Of course he did, but we are mean parents and told him that if he could pay the insurance, he could have the car. He declined.

The insurance on a used Pontiac wasn’t much. Not that your parental ploy meant much, anyway, if he couldn’t get parking in the first place.</p>

<p>I get it that a lot of students don’t want or need cars. The personal anecdotes and arguments about such are inapposite to the discussion about my position, which is that those students who do want to have cars at Swarthmore (and whose parents are OK with it) should be able to. It shouldn’t be such a colossal pain in the ass or outright impossibility for those who would actually like to have a car there.</p>