Parking lottery expands

Weber State University Parking Services has announced that 2010-2011 ‘A’ parking permits will be assigned to qualified WSU seniors. Students could enter this lottery July 8-19 in order to get the available permits. Qualifications for seniors included current enrollment in summer or fall classes at WSU and at least 90 completed semester hours. Once in the lottery module, seniors were able to make a preference for the permits available on the site. The permits will be randomly assigned to seniors on July 22.

The website where these options are available can be accessed through e-Weber accounts by clicking on the “student services” tab. The parking channel’s default location is in the lower left corner of the page.

There has also been a proposal by WSUSA Student Senate in recent years to add veterans to the list of those eligible for ‘A’ parking permits.

“The year before there was a suggestion that veterans be put into the lottery because a lot of veterans are not seniors,” said Tawny Choi, a senior majoring in elementary education. “It was just a thank-you to the veterans, because they’re not seniors but some of them could be seniors except they are deported.”

Choi was previously a senator assigned to the Parking Committee of the WSU Student Senate, although some other non-seniors, such as Mikelle Kap, a sophomore of undecided major at WSU, were previously able to get ‘A’ permits for other reasons.

“My sister works for Basics at Weber State at the gym,” Kap said. “And I work out there a lot so they gave me one so that I wouldn’t have to walk from the ‘W’ lots.”

Kap said that giving ‘A’ permits only to qualified seniors is fair.

“I guess they’ve earned it because they’ve been here for long enough,” she said.

However, some students still have concerns about the number of the permits being given out and how much space the parking lots provide.

“Well, they are way crowded,” said Jacob Barker, a sophomore majoring in general education. “So usually I have to park at the Dee Events Center even though I’ve paid for a ‘W’ pass.”

Barker also commented on the number of ‘A’ permits currently being assigned.

“They should probably do more,” Barker said. “Those lots are usually only half-full.”

Kap, however, mentioned an idea that she felt could solve that problem.

“If they just lowered the prices on the ‘A’ permits a little bit, then parking would be more evened out,” she said. “Even just $10 or $15 lower would be nice. I think it’s just because the ‘A’ permits are so expensive that nobody wants to pay that so they just buy the ‘W.’”

However, there are other students who feel that buying a parking permit may not be necessary, and that there are other options students could use.

“I didn’t buy one,” said Kim Armstrong, a senior majoring in special education. “I really wouldn’t buy one. Honestly, I think that we pay enough fees and parking should be free. There’s enough parking around campus that’s free so I don’t think it’s worth it.”

Once the assignment has been made, the charge for the permit will be added to students’ Banner accounts. Payment for the permits must be made by August 2 by using the “Pay for Your Parking Permit” link on the website. ‘W,’ ‘RW’ and Dee Events Center parking permits will also be made available on the same date and site.