With their push to keep Clemons Library open 24 hours now fully accomplished, Student Council is aiming to gain free student parking at the bookstore parking garage after hours.
"Parking validation is on track to happen at this point," said William Sowers, Council parking and transportation committee chairman. "It's all funding dependent."
By using their student IDs, students would be able to park for free during the night at the Central Grounds Parking Garage. The validation period would run from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. each morning.
"We hope to make spring a test semester," said Sarah Jobe, College representative and member of the parking and transportation committee.
For the program to run, the committee needs to find funding to compensate University Parking and Transportation for the loss of funds it would incur.
"We're looking forward to working in cooperation with Student Council," Parking and Transportation Director Becca White said.
University Parking and Transportation is a self-sufficient part of the University. It does not receive funds from the state or student tuition. The garage is yet to be paid for, so all revenue from parking fees goes to paying for the garage, Jobe said.
"We need to find a funding level that is reasonable and responsible for debt payments on that garage," White said.
The committee is putting together cost estimates of the validation program in hopes of receiving funding from various programs. They will be presented to the Parents Program, the University Security and General Safety Committee, the vice president for student affairs' office and the Office of the President in hopes of landing grants.
"I couldn't imagine the cost estimates being more than $13,000 per semester," Jobe said.
The committee worked to compile the current numbers last year but have since reconstructed ideas within the proposal.
"We wanted to make validation available to all students," she said. "We realized students have all sorts of various reasons to be on Grounds."
The Parents Program rejected the proposal last year on the grounds that it would cost the University too much money, she added.
"We're probably going to be piecing together several different grants," Sowers said.
At its last meeting, the University Security and General Safety committee said it will review the proposal on the basis of its concerns for student safety.
"As a member of the committee, I'm interested in us trying to help fund the parking validation," said Ronnie Mayhew, University Security and General Safety Committee member.
Mayhew he thinks it is hazardous for students who could otherwise drive to walk to Clemons Library and other buildings close to the parking garage late at night or early in the morning.
"Every time I've held an office hour I've had a complaint about parking or the lack thereof," Mayhew said. "The overall benefit will be safety and convenience for the students."
"Truly, students should be able to study in the student library for free and know they have a safe way home," Jobe said.
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