Second-semester parking permits available

Parking permits were distributed to seniors yesterday, Feb. 3, during both lunches. Unlike in previous years, space locations were assigned on a first-come, first-serve basis.

A list of students whose parking permit applications had been accepted was posted Feb. 3, but it did not contain information concerning space numbers or include all accepted juniors. Students were then assigned a space as they paid for their permits, according to Financial Assistant Donna Franklin. She assigned spaces in groups of approximately 30 in order of their distance from the main door.

According to Franklin, last semester, spaces were assigned to students in an arbitrary manner. "There was no rhyme or reason to [the assignments]. The information was just fed into a computer,” she explained. Space numbers were included in the list of accepted applicants, and permits were given out as they were paid for.

Franklin says her first-come, first-serve method was more efficient and less hectic than previous processes. "We're just trying to get [the permits] out as quickly as possible. It's a lot easier this way,” she said.

According to Business Manager Laurie Checco, the SGA made recommendations to administration of which applications to approve. Final decisions were based on need for parking and gave preference to seniors, handicapped students and students in school-supervised programs, she said.

A list including accepted juniors should be posted by today, Feb. 4, according to Checco. The information was not available at the time the posted list was printed.

Accepted students must purchase their permits by Feb. 11 in order to secure their parking space. After this date, their space will be offered to students not initially accepted. Students who do not have second-semester permits may not park in the student parking lot beginning Feb. 7.