Committee leads drive to overhaul parking

Soon the desire for Oberlin students to dodge parking tickets will become a thing of the past.

New and improved parking regulations are being developed by the Parking Committee. This committee, which is split into two subcommittees will be led by Keith James, Director of Safety and Security.

Of the two subcommittees, one will be directly involved with the review, policy and regulations that governs parking on campus.

The other committee will be directly involved with developing space for new parking lots and the possible need for more parking spaces for students on campus.

The committee is looking for at least three additional students for each to serve on both committees.

"It would be great to get student's input during these initial stages of discussion," said James.

Students who will serve on these committees are selected by the Student Senate.

Sophomore Aaron Slodounik, a student on the committee said, "It was my idea to have the survey be slipped under students' door and also to give the incentive of cookie coupons. I think that we got about the same response that the Student Health survey got."

Slodounik also has several other suggestions for parking regulations. "I think that registration should be free. This would make it easier to track vehicles. Oberlin Security can't look up license plates like the Oberlin Police can."

"With this system in place, towing can be more strictly enforced if the rules are violated. All of the cars need to have registration stickers in order to prevent towing."

"I'd also like to see a "Three Strikes and You're Out" plan where there would be a gradation of fines before cars are towed. The problem with the system now is that Oberlin Security wants to just tow all the cars. Oberlin only has one towing service. There would be no possible way for them to handle all of the cars that would be towed", comments Sloudinik.

"Another key reason why there is such a severe parking problem is that so many students have cars. There has to be some way to get out of Oberlin. The transportation system is horrible. Although the Lorain County Transit bus comes almost every hour, it's really not that convenient and getting to Cleveland is almost impossible."

After the two committees meet, regulations and policies will be examined from other campuses and recommendations will be made for Oberlin's campus.

Ross Peacock will release a preliminary report on the parking survey, administered last semester, within the next week.

"This survey allowed for there to be a more precise analysis of the concern that students have about parking. It was worthwhile because it proved that there were a lot of unhappy campers," said Peacock.

"There was a particular challenge for parking amongst students with cars on south campus and even off campus. These are the student who are more likely to use their cars to get to and from classes."

Peacock said also that there are a variety of reason that students don't presently choose to register their vehicles. The survey showed that there also needs to be several more discussions with the two committees.

James would like to see more student input as far as regulations and development. The committees will also work on signage to lots.

He suggests that there needs to be more frequent participation from students on matters like these that have a direct impact on the availability of space for students' cars.

Future plans for the parking committee include the structuring of a "mega lot", that would be located behind Dill Field.

The lot they're dealt: Administrators are granted parking spaces behind Cox. Many drivers fight for spots. (photo by Stina Rudden)