Freshman parking confusion caused by computer error
An error that resulted in freshmen being denied parking permits for the Greenbriar and South Stadium Lots will be fixed in the next two weeks, Rice University Police Chief Bill Taylor said. Staff miscommunication caused the error, Taylor said.
Freshmen may trade their West Lot permits for less-expensive Greenbriar or South Stadium Lot permits from Sept. 7-17, Taylor said. Those who switch will receive a refund for the price difference between the lots.
Parking officials denied Greenbriar and South Stadium Lot permits to freshmen due to a discrepancy between the information entered into RUPD’s new parking computer system and the information printed in the newly updated parking regulations booklet published by the Office of Finance and Administration, Taylor said. Though the computer system did not allow freshmen to park outside of West Lot, the booklet stated that freshmen could park in any of the three lots available to them in previous years: Greenbriar, South Stadium and West Lots.
Parking officials discovered the problem during Orientation Week but were unable to fix the computer system because of the frenzy of students registering vehicles during the week. The system will be fixed between now and Sept. 7, Taylor said.
“It’s not that difficult,” Taylor said. “It’s just that we’ve got too many other things going on right now, and we don’t want to interrupt the system while it’s working.”
Associate Vice President for Finance and Administration Neill Binford apologized for the mistake and the inconvenience it may have caused students.
Freshmen who trade West Lot permits for Greenbriar Lot permits will save $70, while those who trade for South Stadium Lot permits will save $30. Binford said students should be aware that shuttle service to the Greenbriar Lot stops at 4 p.m. daily and that the walk to Greenbriar is significantly longer.
“Even if hundreds of people move to the Greenbriar Lot, we won’t change the shuttle service,” Binford said. “It is what it is for the year.”
Lovett College freshman June Liu requested a Greenbriar Lot permit during O-Week but was turned down.
“They said the option wasn’t available to freshmen,” Liu said. “I just assumed that was the rule.”
Liu said she plans to change her permit to the Greenbriar Lot in order to save money.
Will Rice College freshman Frank Ko said he is unsure whether he will trade his West Lot permit for one of the more distant lots, citing the long walking distance as his main concern.
“I might use my car a lot,” Ko said. “I’ll consider [switching], though.”
There are no plans to limit freshman parking to the West Lot in the future, Binford said.
Taylor said he does not know how many students the mistake affected.
Other news stories
- H&D changes hours, prices for serveries
- IT plans $10-$20 million improvements to campus network
- Leebron inauguration to include student reception
- Most books in to Campus Store, lines still long during peak hours
- SA makes plans for Camacho party
Sports
- Gorry, cross country set sights on national appearance
- ProfessionOwl Pipeline
- Rice Soccer 2004:
- Season Outlook:
- Volleyball eyes first WAC championship
Arts & Entertainment
- A different kind of summer camp
- Shark thriller 'Open Water' cheap on scares
- Witherspoon drowns in her own 'Vanity' in new film