Parking pains return

Gladwin freshman Levi Morse was one of the many unsatisfied students
who found themselves waiting in line this weekend to pick up a parking
permit.

The Combined Services Building was the site for many students who
waited in lines of up to half an hour Monday and Tuesday.

Morse, who was quite irritated with the way he was treated by the
Parking Bureau, had to make three stops to the Combined Services
Building last Friday in order to receive his permit.

“I’ve already registered twice, once at the end of May and another
time in the middle of July,” he said. “For some reason, they still
don’t have me registered.”

Although many students were upset with waiting in long lines during
Welcome Weekend, a majority of them believed that this year was more
organized than the previous.

“I would say they have improved a lot since last year,” said Grand
Ledge freshman Anjuli Holmes. “Lines were an hour long last year when I
came here.”

Many of these students were in line to pick up permits they had
already registered for online over the summer.

More than 8,600 permits were mailed out to both students and faculty
during the summer.

Mason sophomore Evan Pulver didn’t have to go through the hassle of
waiting in long lines because he registered his automobile during the
summer.

“It was pretty simple; they sent me the e-mail last spring and I
registered.” Pulver said. “All I had to do was pick it up the week
before class while I was driving through town. I think I got pretty
lucky.”

Although revenue from permit sales has risen, 10 percent fewer
permits have been sold.