The University’s Parking and Transportation Committee is currently considering an initiative proposed by Student Council that would provide free late-night parking for students in the Central Grounds Parking Garage near Newcomb Hall.
The initiative, headed by Council’s Safety and Wellness Committee, proposes providing free parking for students from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. every night.
Council President Matt Schrimper said the goal of the initiative is to increase student safety on Grounds.
“We are hoping to not only encourage students to go to the library at night but to do so safely,” Schrimper said.
During September, Council surveyed more than 1,300 students to determine how many students would use free late-night parking. More than 98 percent of students surveyed said they would be more inclined to go to the library at night if free parking was available on Grounds, said Colin Hood, vice-chair of the Safety and Wellness Committee.
Second year College student Alex Fey agreed that students would be more likely to use the garage at night if there was no parking fee.
“I think it’s a great idea, definitely for safety and convenience reasons,” Fey said.
Schrimper noted that many students are deterred from using the University’s libraries late at night because of the uncertainty of finding a ride home or having a friend with whom they can walk back.
“We just want to discourage students from walking home at night,” Hood said.
To obtain free parking, students would have their parking tickets validated at Clemons Library, Clark Hall, Alderman Library or at the Newcomb Hall information desk, Schrimper said, adding that students would need to show their student ID to have their parking fee waived.
At the end of November, Council presented the initiative to the Parking and Transportation Committee to gain University approval, Schrimper said.
Whether the committee will be able to implement Council’s initiative depends on funding for the project, explained Andy Mansfield, associate director for management in the Department of Parking and Transportation. He noted that student fees could be used to compensate for the funds lost by providing free parking. The committee would need to decide if the initiative would benefit enough students to warrant using these fees.
“Our mission at Parking and Transportation is to make sure that we are trying to assist the largest portion of students in how we allocate their student fees,” Mansfield said.
Schrimper said Council is willing to help fund the project at first but noted that the Parking and Transportation Committee eventually would need to handle the cost on its own. He said the committee should come to a final decision during its December meeting.
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