Entrance to SMU parking structures has become impossible for students who attempt to avoid paying the initial on-campus parking fee.
Previously, any registered student could gain access to the gated parking structures on campus. By using an SMU ID card or a student ID number, any student was granted access without paying the $100 parking fee, but this is no longer so.
For the 2006 spring session, SMU Parking has restricted the access to gated parking facilities. Only students who have paid for parking will be allowed use of the gated parking structures. Out of the approximately 9,800 students who are registered for the spring semester, only 4,800 regular students and 1,000 law students have paid for parking.
There are many differing opinions to these new restrictions. When told of the newly instated restrictions, sophomore Christina Mountz said, “Parking on this campus is a continuous struggle. It is so difficult to find on-campus parking even if you do pay the fee. If SMU insists we pay them to park, then they need to see to it that there is always available parking on campus. Restricting these areas will do nothing.”
On the other hand, there are students who do feel that restricting these parking areas will make the parking areas safer, not to mention make the parking fee a must for those students who are hoping to disregard it.
“I think that it is unfair for students who pay for parking to have their spots filled by students who refuse to do so,” off-campus commuter Emily Garrett said. “It is difficult for me to find a spot when I come to school, and it is definitely not fair for those spots to be taken by students who have not paid for a parking pass.”
In response to this already controversial and difficult on-campus parking situation, SMU Parking official Mark Rhodes said, “Parking is an entitlement on our campus, and those who do not pay are not entitled to receive parking.”
As the spring semester begins, SMU Parking plans to place appropriate signs at the entrance of the restricted parking facilities, which include: Moody garage, Airline garage and the Dedman 3 parking lot. If a student is unable to gain access to any of these locations, the signs will direct the student to contact the SMU Parking office for assistance.
̢̢̢۬۬۬
