Ah, parking. From the veteran senior to the young freshman, each group has the same opinion on this issue — there is not enough of it. Waiting for a parking spot either on campus or in the residence hall lots is the equivalent of waiting for manna from Heaven. It is a miracle when it happens.

Every person who has ever complained about NIU’s parking problems has offered up a solution, and we have a few of our own.

First, we suggest utilizing the Huskie Bus system. We as students pay for these fine modes of transportation every year with our student fees. They are accessible from any area of campus — as well as the far reaches of the thriving metropolis of DeKalb — to anywhere classes are located. There should be no reason for anyone within reasonable distance of campus — i.e. Greek Row or other local apartments — to obtain a parking permit, especially given that we have students commuting from as far as an hour away.

Second, it is up to the university to alleviate some of the parking concerns by not overselling parking permits in mass quantity. We understand that some overselling is necessary because it’s obvious that not every student will need to park his or her car for a whole day at a time.

But the practice of overselling must be watched like a hawk, because, if abused, it will end up similar to the current situation: where nobody parks at all.

The university should be commended for cracking down on another important aspect of the problem, students who attempt to scam the parking system. This involves some students who obtain parking permits by claiming they are from a distant city (most often their home town) and get a permit, when in reality they are living here in town.

Part of the point of having specialized parking permits in the first place is to ensure a parking spot for those who commute from distant places. It is a positive sign that the university is dealing with this problem.

NIU must increase its concentration on this issue and also take steps to rectify the problems associated with overselling for this to be a fully accessible campus for commuters, with liberty and parking spaces for all.