Parking services raises fees

By Stephanie Barnes

Are you inviting a friend over or planning an upscale event? You better make parking arrangements first.

The Campus Parking Services committee recently raised some of its fees for visitor parking.

The daily, weekly and monthly fees went up from $4, $8, and $20 to $5, $10 and $25, respectively.

The main reason for the increase was to help with visitor’s lot renovations, said Ron Pearson, coordinator of parking and traffic.

“That lot is going to be reconstructed soon,” Pearson said. “It would certainly help with the funding for the lot.”

Although parking services hadn’t made changes for several years, the price for parking permit violations has increased almost 50 percent.

Pearson said that the fees increased this year based on a vote from the parking committee.

“They are making [money] off of us,” said John Hammond, freshman business major. “It’s more of a business rather than an enforcement.”

Junior biology major Tiffany Miller said that it’s not the students’ responsibility to contribute to parking lot renovations.

“Students are already obligated to pay drastic fees,” Miller said. “Why do we have to pay more for a university-owned lot that should be free to the public?”

In an effort to eliminate any problems that may arise with visitors or upcoming events, Campus Parking Services encouraged students to contact its office to make arrangements. Permits can be purchased pre-dated or undated to keep on-hand for use as needed.

For information, call Laura Lundelius of Campus Parking Services at 753-9377.