For many students attending classes at IU Southeast, finding a perfect parking spot on campus is about as exhilarating as winning the lottery.
Some students have said the university needs more parking spaces.
“There are 2,603 parking spaces available on campus, which include handicapped, metered and faculty parking,” Charles Edelen, IUS Police chief, said.
A fund is set up specifically for parking permit fees, which pays for parking lot repairs, striping of parking spaces, snow removal, part of the IUS Police officer’s salaries and the automated one-day parking permit dispensers.
Jim Wolfe, director of Physical Plant, said he believes the university’s future planning may include additional parking being added during the next few years.
“A master planning is in process by an outside consulting firm that is working with the chancellor and vice chancellor, along with the University Architecture Office to develop a layout of future buildings, parking needs and to answer any other needs being addressed by the campus and faculty,” Wolfe said.
For students who are unsure about where they are authorized to park on campus with their parking permit, they can consult the university’s traffic and parking regulations, which can be found on the IUS website to avoid getting ticketed.
Often the misplacement or mishandling of a parking permit can result in a parking citation.
According to the traffic and parking regulations, the proper placement of the parking permit is in the lowest corner of the driver’s side front windshield.
The permit is not a permanent sticker, so it can be peeled off and transferred.
Christopher Tweathers, criminal justice senior, said he believes they are a rip off.
“I had my parking permit on my windshield, but the sticker fell off, and I got cited for a violation,” Tweathers said. “I was mad and went and explained to them that I do have a permit, but it had fallen off the windshield. They didn’t accept my reason.
“I paid the fine with a $5 bill, and the other half I paid it all in change just to make them mad,” Tweathers said.
Even though Tweathers had a parking permit, the officer was unable to see it, resulting in a $10 citation.
These citations can and will be given out if a permit is placed on the back windshield or on the dashboard.
“Once a student or faculty member purchases a parking permit that is just the first step, Linda Gilray, IUS Police dispatcher, said. “You wouldn’t purchase a license plate for your car and throw it in your trunk after getting it,” Gilray said.
Students who feel as though they have wrongly received parking citations can appeal the ticket within seven days of the violation by filing a Parking Violation Appeal form.
These forms can be found at the IUS website under the Police Department’s parking
information.
By STEVE NICHOLS
Staff
stevnich@umail.iu.edu