It seems NIU is never going to solve its parking problem. Numerous proposals have been lost in a sea of red tape, as more and more motorists compete for a limited number of spots.

The most recent ideas aimed at addressing the problem have been a fee increase and a “proposed proposal.” One was defeated—the other remains in question.

The “proposed proposal” suggests reallocating existing lots to accommodate only faculty and staff, in addition to making Lot O strictly a commuter lot. With that, the questions of priorities and student rights have emerged.

The Student Association senate has announced plans to study the make-up of the campus parking committee. This amounts to nothing more than a distraction from the real issue—the shortage of available space.

It can be argued that students do need added representation on the parking committee. After all, students contribute a disproportionately high amount of the parking revenue generated compared to their representation. But the high percentage is due to more than two student permits being sold for every available space. Regardless of policy, beliefs or statistics, it’s a practice that just isn’t working out.

The number of students on the committee has little to do with actually solving the problem. Currently, there are four student positions on the 12 person committee. Even if this number increased, there still would be other groups—faculty, staff, administrators—vying for the same parking spaces.

The NIU administration must realize it sells too many student permits. The result is a parking shortage. Students must also realize the largest group needing space does not necessarily constitute the group with the highest priority.

Faculty and staff can make an equal if not better claim for the scarce parking space available. While these groups can cite living outside DeKalb and work as reasons for needing the space, only commuter students can make a similar claim.

What is needed is a reduction in the amount of permits sold, an increase in available space—or both. Having a committee study another committee does nothing to solve the actual problem, which has gone on far too long. It only weighs down an already exhausting problem with more unnecessary red tape.