CMU Freshmen must vacate campus lots 63, 64 by 2 a.m. Thursday

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Freshmen must move their cars out of lots 63 and 64 by 2 a.m. Thursday to make way for Thursday night’s football game against Hampton University.

They can begin moving out of the lots at 4 p.m. on Wednesday and not receive a ticket. Freshmen can park in 13 different lots across campus, although the Central Michigan University Police have designated the grassy area next to His House and across from the Towers for displaced cars and recommend freshmen park there.

Police Chief Bill Yeagley does not anticipate many of the 1,439 registered cars to stay past the 2 a.m. deadline and they are doing their best to make sure students are informed.

“Obviously, we do this for every home game,” he said. “Our big effort early on is trying to make sure everyone gets the information.”

Sara Olsztyn, Wheeler Residence Hall director, said she thinks getting all her freshman residents the information will be harder than expected.

“It’s almost impossible to get a message out to 400 people,” she said. “The first football game is always the most difficult because they don’t know yet. They see once the games start.”

Any unmoved cars will receive a parking ticket at the very least and could be towed depending on the situation, Yeagley said. He expects only two to five cars to remain in the lots past the deadline.

Yeagley said parking may be even tighter across campus as the freshman lot empties.

“It might be a little tougher this year than it was last year because we have more cars on campus,” he said. “I really believe we have ample parking.”

Non-freshman can also use the 13 lots designated for overflow if their respective lots are full.

Parking enforcement will allow people to park on the grass, but fire lanes and handicap parking will be enforced no matter what.

“I think the biggest impact I see is when people park in places they aren’t supposed to,” said Chad Garland, Kesseler Residence Hall director. “They sometimes park in ways that block sidewalks.”

Olsztyn said the extra cars always brings about the possibility of problems.

“Most students aren’t parking in fire lanes, but if there was an emergency, it could be an issue,” she said. “Sometimes students aren’t as careful as they need to be.”