Diversify the Parking Lots of Campus

Can you judge someone by the car they drive? The answer is yes. The phrase “do not judge a book by its cover” is out of touch in this age of never-ending critique. Sometimes, this critique can be useful. A part of someone’s character is always present in the car they drive, and on a college campus, sometimes a bit more character comes out. There are few cars that routinely pique the interest of an observer, and while some vehicles are adopted into a folkloric legend, most vehicles at MSU are trucks. Unfortunately, trucks have a tendency to be a little extra when driving around the Bozeman streets.

It’s not as if there is a comprehensive scientific study centered around trucks on a college campus, but all students have learned experience. These sorts of experiences may manifest as small anxieties or fears. A student might stay a moment and really observe the vehicle come to a complete stop at a crosswalk. It is never a bad idea to be cautious around the main streets that run through campus, but these are not the sort of thoughts that should occupy a student’s mind.

A few weeks ago, a truck was sighted doing a burnout in front of the duck pond and while the safety of MSU students may not have been in jeopardy, think about the ducks. Jarred from their rest on a Friday night by a young kid who did not know any better and has now offended multiple generations of duck families, the ducks were disturbed, to say the least. Think of the lamas in that field next to Town and Country who are undoubtedly losing some sleep in the wake of truck-based attention seeking. This is an issue imprinted into a culture surrounding the west and trucks; however, it could be rectified by better bumper stickers and diversity in car models.

Maybe trucks and their drivers could become more relatable by sharing a common love of art and culture. If there were fewer fish and American flags, then some room could be made for stickers that highlight an individual’s interest. A giant sticker that says Catan or the entire script of “Scooby-Doo and the Witch’s Ghost” could make trucks a more approachable vehicle. It is rude to waste the time of students who took time out of their day to look at your car for bumper stickers.

In order to increase the appeal of campus, there must be a diversity of aesthetics present within the automotive environment. While few cars are as memorable as the Jurassic Park-styled Jeep which can be seen around campus, there is room for interpretation and invention. Stay loud, stay brash, but become interesting.

With so much creativity and talent present on campus, there has to be something better to do with a vehicle. So much can be gleaned from a bumper sticker and each time one is seen, there is a social interaction taking place. Whether you want to inform others about yourself or simply make someone laugh, there is power within a sticker. The car and its stickers are simply an extension of the driver’s voice. Discussions amongst cars sitting solitarily in a parking lot can do more than anyone may know.