Dorm parking for freshmen on IUSA chopping block

A new IU Student Association proposal could bar freshmen from parking in dorm parking lots. \nIUSA Vice President Andrew Lauck voiced his support for a plan that would force freshmen to park only in the stadium lot at an Aug. 21 meeting of the President's Parking Commission.\nResidence Halls Association President Matt Jarson said limiting freshmen parking is something he thought RHA would be "totally opposed to."\nLauck said he thought eliminating freshmen spaces would allow for a lot of other people to use those spots, including graduate students and other student staff members.\nAndy Tellas, parking manager for Residential Programs and Services, said it is difficult to determine the number of freshmen who park in dorm parking lots because of the way the data is tracked.\nJarson said he's been told that about 7,000 of the approximately 9,000 students who park in dorm parking lots are freshmen. Lauck, on the other hand, said he was informed that the number of freshmen who park at those lots was "a handful." \nNeither student representative could give the exact number of freshmen who park in dorm parking lots.\nTellas said a majority of freshmen live in Briscoe, Foster and McNutt quads, whereas Read Center and Forest and Willkie quads have an overwhelming number of returning residents.\nBecause of this, the proposal would largely free up parking spots at Briscoe, Foster and McNutt since upperclassmen often "grab up" most of the spaces at other dorms, Tellas said.\n"I don't think it would work out as they're thinking it would," he said. "From my perspective, eliminating freshmen from parking on campus probably wouldn't really help the situation."\nLauck suggested examining the number of spots a residence hall needs and giving permits to upperclassmen and the rest to graduate student employees.\nLauck said he believes that the committee will look into the proposal further.\n"One of the nice things is we allow freshmen to bring cars to campus, and I think that's a great opportunity," Lauck said. "But at the same time there are other uses (for those parking spaces)."\nLauck said one big change is not going to solve the parking situation, but the committee needs to act on something by the end of the semester.\nJarson said he is not expecting a final decision on any parking issue until November.\nThe committee also addressed the raising of the price of A permits, the lowering of the price of E permits, the construction of a new parking garage near the law school and bus routes, Jarson said.\nThe next meeting for the President's Parking Commission is scheduled for Sept. 14.