Parking problem subject of campus residents' petition

The residents of the International House are tired of their current parking situation and have taken action by presenting a petiton to parking and transportation services. The petition requests reserving a minimum of 30 parking spaces in lot 1 for residential students only.

From the beginning of the year, the residents have been complaining about the situation in lot 1, said Lisa Marcotte, 22, a psychology/human development major. During the day, some of the residents run errands and go to work. They return later and can't find a parking space.

"[These residents] can't park out there in the day," said Marcotte, "so you have to park out at the lot by the japanese gardens. Then you have to get your car at night or leave it there overnight." Students then must deal with the hassle of moving their cars nightly to available spaces in lot 1.

"If you go get your car at night when there's parking available [in lot 1]," Marcotte said, "you don't want to walk out there at night. There are [possibilities] of muggings, people attacking you. It's kind of scary."

"And if you leave it there overnight, there's a chance of theft." Frustrated with the situation, Marcotte decided to take matters in her own hands. Bringing the matter to parking services, she was told this was the first they've heard compliants of this particular parking situation.

Marcotte then put a petition together to show parking officials what the resident's current situation was.

"We got the petition together," Marcotte said. "E. H. Henry [field services manager of parking services] said that they would get right on it. He would talk to the Housing Office and work something out." A month has now gone by without any results. Marcotte is still persistant.

"I kept calling," Marcotte said, "and nothing ever came about it."

"I got the petition together in February, and I gave it to him, I think, in the beginning of March. But we had been complaining prior to this, all during the year since September."

"We're residents here. And I think it's unfair that we're paying $600 a month to live here. There's problems with vandalism to bikes, cars. It's ridiculous that they don't have any security and, especially, restricted parking for us."

Henry was unavailable for comment.