The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current, April 14, 1994, Page 6, Image 6

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    Campus parking
Nebraskan
iy, April 14, 1994
Students angry about parking tee increase
By Brian Sharp
Staff Reporter
A parking permit rate increase that was
decided almost a month ago has just now caught
the attention ofUNL students—most ol whom
say the price increase was approved underhand
edly.
But Transportation Manager Mike Cacak
said he didn't understand why students were
suddenly upset about the change, which Vice
Chancellor for Business and Finance John
Goebel approved on March 23.
“If people haven’t known about it. 1 guess
they haven't been keeping up on the news,”
Cacak said. People have seemed to have the
opportunity. I don t know whether they just
missed it or had something else going on.”
With the rate system implementing a per
rnonth charge, permit costs will double lor
some areas. The amount of the increase de
pends on whether the permit will be for nine
months or the lull year and whether it is a
student or faculty/staff lot.
For example, an Area 20 permit had cost
students S5X for 1 2 months. Students now will
pay either S72 for nine months or S% for the
full year.
The new plan makes similar increases lor all
permits.
Cacak said previous meetings and lorums
had brought little opposition. Cacak specifi
cally mentioned a Feb. 23 forum, where report
ers nearly outnumbered students and university
personnel.
Andrew Loudon, president ot the Associa
tion of Students of the University of Nebraska,
said whatever had happened in the past shouldn’t
mean students could not voice their anger now.
It also doesn’t excuse parking officials from
listening to students’ concerns, he said.
Loudon said, however, that there was little
that ASUN could do.
“Whenever we find out about someth mg 1 ike
this, it’s a done deal. I don’t have any specific
plan of action because I haven’t got all my
questions answered,” he said. “(The Parking
Advisory Committee)did a pretty slick packag
ing job.”
Most students found out about the increase
when they received their renewal statements
this week.
Mike Witt, a sophomore computer science
major, said he had tried to talk to parking
officials, but they were never available.
Witt said he wasn’t sure buying a permit
L.
Jay Catderon/DN
_fe - ----
Lincoln Police Officer Dave Haumont hands a ticket to Dave Heimbuch for parking on 16th street for more than two hours.
“You guys (UNL) really do have a parking problem on campus,” Haumont said.
next year was worth the money.
“People paying $300 (for a student reserved
permit) is ridiculous,” Witt said. "1 just live one
mile from campus, and 1 can get a bike for
$300.”
Some faculty members were more support
ive of the increase.
Steven Dunbar, an associate professor of
math and statistics, said even with the increase,
parking would be cheaper than in the down
town area.
“It's still a bargain,” Dunbar said. “I thought
what they had previously was artificially low. I
think what they have now is closer to market
rates.”
Karla Wendclin, associate professor of cur
riculum and instruction, said she didn’t realize
the increase would be this high, but since she
lived out of town, she was out of choices.
“A dramatic jump like that ... is astonish
ing,” she said. “That should generate a lot of
revenue. I think it would really depend on if
they’re going to use it (the money) wisely.”
Cacak said Ihc money would dc going sinuiy
to parking and transportation improvements.
Improvements to the shuttle and busing ser
vices, along with paving and lighting of park
ing lots, were all th ings that students wanted, he
said.
Without raising prices. Transportation Ser
vices would have had little funding to improve
campus parking lots. Similar improvements
scheduled to be done on a student parking lot
near the Abel-Sandoz residence hall complex
cost nearly $200,000.
1994-95
Parking Fee
Structure
Annual
(8/22/94-3/21/16)
FaH and Spring
Fall
Spring
Monthly
Waokly
Dally
120
90
45
45
30
10
5
2
360
(8/22/14-8/21/95)
FaH and Spring 270
Fad 135
Spring 135
90
30
Kai Wilken/DN
Waokly
Dally
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