Thanks to parking policy changes discussed this month, students will now have greater leeway parking their cars on campus late at night, but the class of 2011 may enjoy fewer parking privileges.
According to an official announcement last week, roadside parking is extended from 1 a.m. to 3 a.m. to accommodate students studying late at night at Tisch.
The areas affected will be Professors Row from Packard Ave. to College Ave; Latin Way from Professors Row to Talbot Ave; and Talbot Ave. from Packard Ave. to College Ave.
Additionally, students are now allowed to park on weekdays from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. and on all weekends and holidays in lots previously restricted to faculty and staff. Although not always expressly forbidden from parking in these spots in the past, guidelines were previously unclear.
According to Tufts Community Union President Mitch Robinson, student complaints motivated the Senate to meet with TUPD to reach this new agreement.
"A bunch of students had come up to a number of Senate members and expressed that they are at late-night study till 3 [a.m.] and just want to park their cars on campus," he said. "And there's not that many staff members parked on campus at 3 in the morning."
TUPD Captain Mark Keith stressed that these privileges are restricted to those with valid parking decals or passes.
The exception is that during snowstorms, "emergency regulations take precedence," according to Keith. In that case, "there is no parking in roadways or lots to allow facilities to clear them," he said.
Another exception is that when Tisch is open later, parking restrictions will be changed to reflect the later hours.
According to Robinson, many of these new regulations contrast with older, less clearly stated guidelines about parking on campus. "It was a precedent before - unsaid and not very clear. Now it's clear, it's definite," he said.
Though another parking amendment is presently on the table for consideration, it will not affect Tufts' current student body.
Next year's freshman class of 2011 may not be permitted to bring cars to school until their junior year. Currently, students are allowed to bring cars starting their sophomore year.
The Cousens Gym lot, where sophomores may now park their cars, may be needed for employees working in the Lorin Low Dame School, the renovated elementary school that will house some Tufts offices this upcoming fall.
"With the Dame School being opened next September, Public Safety will be able to gauge the level of demand with the new patterns of parking," Dean of Student Affairs Bruce Reitman said. "Then they will be able to make that call."
The Dame School, located on George Street behind the Elliott-Pearson building, lacks the space for an accompanying parking lot, Reitman said.
The changes, however, are not written in stone. "It all depends on supply and demand," Reitman said. "If there are excess spaces, they will go to that class."
He said that current parking trends indicate that hope is not lost for the class of 2011. "The popularity of cars on campus seems to be declining," he said.
Keith confirmed this observation. "This year there seems to be a lot more available parking than usual," he said. "The lower campus garage has eased some of the congestion downhill."
While the Miller and Carmichael spots designated for junior and senior resident parkers might often seem empty, Keith said this hadn't always been the case. "Historically, there has not been enough space for sophomores to park there," he said.
Prospective students visiting Tufts this week during February break were informed of this possibility, as this new information has now been included in admissions materials, according to Reitman.
As to whether parking privileges are a significant consideration for prospective students, sophomore Lisa Haubenstock, a tour guide since her freshman year, says that parking questions were fairly uncommon. "It's not the most common question, but it's definitely been asked," she said.
Haubenstock said, however, that she doubts the delay in receiving parking privileges will be a deterrent for potential applicants.
