Rushing the 320 yards to class

The 320 yard walk up from Seacrest lot has been a complaint for decades – but it might not be as bad as students thought

Lily Abele, Editor, Layout Editor • September 30, 2025

Photo by Lincoln East High School 1985 Yearbook

In 1985, a student describes the long walk up from the lot, and the events that may occur in poor weather. This article in the yearbook featured any struggles that occur from the parking problem.

It’s -12 degrees Fahrenheit. The wind pushes at your face. Your hands gripping your ID are immobile, but your only concern is making it to the school and getting to class on time. No time for a coat. Since the school’s opening in 1967, students have complained about the 320 yard walk up from Seacrest lot for decades – yet nothing has changed – because we might be luckier than we thought.

Seacrest is not just part of East’s school grounds – it is also city owned. The roads surrounding the

In 1968, year two of Lincoln East’s opening, students walk up from the lot with hands filled with books. The walk up has been a complaint since the grand opening, in fact it may have even gotten better. (Photo by Lincoln East High School 1968 Yearbook )

school are real city roads, which allows the city of Lincoln to pay for a majority of the fixes. Although there has been talk about moving the lot closer to the school, East is lucky in its own way. Many other schools in LPS sometimes run out of spots midday – but East is lucky enough to never have that worry with the unlimited parking space, and mostly equal spaces.

For half a century, students have tried in every way to get a spot in the teachers lot. This definitely isn’t a new thing – in fact it may have been worse. In 1970, a patrolman was stationed in the visitors lot to block students from escaping the walk.

In 1970, a patrolman keeps guard of the teachers lot to make students question before escaping the long walk. Tickets may not have ended student’s parking habits, so the patrolman was the best option to stop up-top parking. (Photo by Lincoln East High School 1970 Yearbook)

While in 2025 there aren’t patrolman, security guard Sydney Austin and her crew write reminders for students for parking penalties.

“This year instead of writing a ticket, we just put those little slips on the cars. I felt like that was a less confrontational way,” Austin said. “Because any student that gets a ticket, they’re like, oh, this sucks and our goal is not to write a bunch of tickets and ruin people’s days.”

In 2025, it can be difficult. In a time where students come and go – whether that is to classes at the University, The Career Academy, or shortened schedules. Junior Graham Lambert faces a rushed walk to third period every day returning from his math class at the University of Nebraska.

“I park in Seacrest, which ends up being really bad because it is already very filled up,” Lambert said.

With a class that gets out at 9:20 – he has 25 minutes to make it to third period despite excused tardies. A walk 3-5 minutes shorter could allow Lambert to get to class on time. Yet, he is thankful for the abundance of spaces opposed to a school like Southeast.

Jenna Steinke, junior at Southeast, has a different parking story. Arriving for her 7 A.M. class every morning, Steinke parks in the A lot – one to two minutes away from the school. Although the parking lot is split between two separate lots, students are at maximum, four minutes away from school.

“Sometimes we run out of parking spots – if I get there after 8:00, I have to park in C lot, but since I have a 7 A.M, I get there at 6:50 ish and am guaranteed a spot,” Steinke said. “I pretty much park in the same spot every day, although you park further back if you get there later.”

While we may complain about the miles we walk to school – at least we know we’re not the only ones in terms of past classes, and other schools.

About the Contributor

Lily Abele, Editor, Layout Editor

Lily Abele is a junior at Lincoln East and has been involved in The Oracle for two years. This year she is looking forward to getting closer with everyone on staff, as well as writing articles for the print editions. Outside of The Oracle, she plays cello in the orchestra, plays and coaches tennis, is the vice president for Feminist Club, an officer for Hope Squad and Civic Engagement, is part of DECA, Key Club, speech, Model UN, Revival, We are Sparta, Lincoln Gold, and a Woods mentorship program called WTC Leadership Academy! When she’s not attending one of her many clubs, she enjoys doing anything active, spending time with her family and friends, crafting, watching rom coms, like Notting Hill, and listening to all kinds of music. Lily lives by the motto, “Say yes as much as you can because you won’t regret it.”