Homecoming events, B3
THE STATESMAN WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2014
UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA DULUTH
WWW.UMDSTATESMAN.COM
Maroon parking shortage
On-campus permits oversold by 74 percent ILLUSTRATION BY MARISA SCHOEN
excludes 110 permits corresponding to permanent employees at off-campus lots.
BY JOHN FAHNENSTIEL Statesman Correspondent
Maroon permits were oversold by 74 percent this year after excluding two parking lots miles away from campus. One hundred and ninety-two maroon parking spaces are located at UMD’s Natural Resources Research Institute — a 20-minute drive from campus. Another 47 maroon spots are located at a research lab 1.2 miles southeast of Kirby Plaza. Neither of the two lots are listed on Parking Services’ website or displayed on the official campus parking map. There are no classrooms at either facility and both lots are mostly empty on a day-to-day basis, according to employees at each location. To calculate the adjusted oversell ratio, the Statesman excluded 239 maroon spaces located off-campus and excluded 110 maroon permits corresponding to the number of permanent employees associated with both offcampus facilities. Parking Services Director Patrick Keenan told the Statesman that maroon and white permits were oversold by 41 percent this year. However, white permits alone were oversold by only 7 percent, so most of the oversell was maroon permits. Maroon permits were oversold by 53 percent, but that figure is 74 percent if off-campus lots and the cars that use
them are excluded. Perhaps that’s why UMD junior Keely Lonetto has trouble finding a maroon spot on campus. “Driving around for 10,15 or 20 minutes before class (trying to find a spot) is stressful,” Lonetto said. “Being late because of the parking situation is not okay.” Desperate to get to class, Lonetto has parked in metered spots in maroon lots and incurred tickets. “It’s not our fault we have to park (in metered spots). We shouldn’t have to pay for a permit and a meter,” she said. Maroon permits are $195 for the academic year and on-campus meters cost $1 per hour — 33 percent more expensive than meters in downtown Duluth. Keenan oversells because of the transient nature of maroon permit holders and high demand. “We have far more people who want permits than we have spaces available,” Keenan said. He said overselling is a balancing act, and every year he tries to find the “sweet spot” so that lots are used efficiently. Permits per space have fallen over the past several years, but Keenan did not outline an exact methodology for adjusting the ratio. He determines oversell percentage based on per see PERMITS, A3
Parking officers’ ticket ‘fare’ Kirby at it again
Student Center to undergo renovations in 2015 BY AISLING DOHENY Staff Reporter
Mike, a UMD parking officer, tickets a vehicle outside of Kirby Bus Hub. Mike said that many students believe he is out to get students, but he is simply doing his job and gives breaks to students when he can. ALEX GANEEV/STATESMAN
The two parking officers on campus face abuse from students on a regular basis while trying to remain as fair as possible BY SAM STROM News Editor
UMD’s two parking officers swear that the new form of waving is a fist with the middle finger extended. Mike and Ed, who asked that their last names not be printed for personal reasons related to safety and privacy, have been UMD’s parking officers for eight years. In that time they have received glares and abuse from students, and have been labeled a gambit of names and titles ranging from “ruthless” to “Parking Nazis.” “It’s just such a misconception that
INDEX:
News: A1 - A4 |
we’re after the students,” Mike said. “No, we’re not. It’s a university job that was offered and we do that, and we try to do it as fairly as possible.” Posts on “Overheard at UMD,” a Facebook group for students, have been especially negative towards the two. In 2013, a car started on fire in the maroon parking lot outside of the library, which Mike called in to 911. A student took a picture of the car on fire and posted it on the group. Soon after, a student superimposed a photo of Ed writing a ticket to make it appear as though he was ticketing the burning car. This is just one example of the abuse
Opinion: A5 - A6 | Sports: B1 - B2
the two receive on campus. “The negative experiences are swearing and threats,” Mike said. He added that he’s had a student confront him in the parking lot with the intention to physically harm him. Mike was able to talk to the student down, but it was a scary situation nonetheless. Mike and Ed understand that receiving a ticket is frustrating, but they say the students need to understand that the two have a job to do. In fact, when asked what they disliked about their jobs, the first thing Mike answered was “having to write tickets.” see OFFICERS, A3
| Student Life: B3 - B5
More changes are coming to the Kirby Student Center. Not even one year after the Kirby Student Lounge renovation finished, UMD has launched another remodeling project. The first level of Kirby Student Center is getting a makeover. The four current student organizations that hold residence in the space are Student Association, Kirby Program Board, Greek Life and the Statesman. The last major facelift to occur in these offices was in the late 70s. Now the physical spaces of these student organizations will undergo big changes in early 2015. Jeni Eltink, Director of KSC, said that Kirby is taking this space that is so secluded and dated and making it new. Starting in January, the brick walls along the right side of the KSC hallway will be knocked down and the entire area will be raised 12 inches off the ground. Steps and ramps will be put in. The KSC area, as a whole, is being opened up, lightened and made very accessible. Divine Bakare, member of both SA and KPB, is most excited about the changes to the physical appearance of the offices. “I really don’t like the brick wall,” Bakare said.“I try and cover it up as much as I can.” The layout is not set in stone — there are still some finalizations that Kirby needs to make. see KIRBY, A4