Game days seem to bring spirit to the SMU community, but that spirit is sometimes dampened by the strict protocol students are expected to follow in regards to parking their vehicles.

For the SMU-TCU game, students were asked to move their cars from almost every location on campus by 11 p.m on Thursday in order to make room for fans. Some of those locations include Meadows garage, Dedman parking lot, Binkley Avenue and South Quad parking lot.

Nina Williams, a junior double major in accounting and psychology, finds the protocol difficult to follow.

“This Friday is going to be especially difficult because students have class but they must move their cars tonight,” Williams said on Thursday. “It [the parking situation] is extremely difficult for students and seems unfair.”

Beginning at 12 p.m. on Thursday, drivers weren’t allowed to enter into the Binkley or Moody garages. The only places deemed acceptable for student parking during the game are Airline garage, the Law garage or Heroy parking lot.

Although it seems to be inconvenient for those students who live on campus, it’s seemingly harder for those who live off campus.

“It’s especially hard to find parking if you live just off campus,” said Spencer Kaiser, a junior marketing major. “The whole campus and surrounding area get congested.”

Ryan Gage, a junior accounting major, agrees with Kaiser.

“I think it’s extremely inconvenient and could have been accomplished other ways,” Gage said.

When asked how he would get to campus tomorrow, Gage said he would have to resort to other modes of transportation.

“I’ll probably just run,” he said.

If any students happened to wake up and find their vehicles towed, they can be picked up in the Heroy lot, north of Dallas Hall, and a $75 relocation fee will be added to their SMU account.

Game day parking is not managed by Park N’ Pony but by the SMU Athletics Department.  All questions can be directed to the department by calling 214-SMU-GAME or by e-mailing [email protected].