Miami Student

Issue date: 2/8/08 Section: Campus

Patients of Student Health Services can park in the Campus Avenue garage free of charge for 90 minutes after getting a parking pass validation at the health center.

After a busy month at the Student Health Services Center, with long lines and a crowded parking lot, the parking system is changing in order to try to meet student needs.

Perry Gordon, director of parking and transportation services at Miami University, said the idea for parking validation at the health center stemmed from a question posed by an Associated Student Government (ASG) senator during Gordon's presentation to the organization a few weeks ago.

Gordon said the health center, as of Feb. 4, would punch a pass from the Campus Avenue parking garage for students getting treatment. The pass will allow students free parking for 90 minutes.

He said the idea is based off of the parking validation process for visitors reporting to the admission office for a tour or daylong events.

Tammy Gustin, acting director of clinical services at the health center, believes the parking validation is a beneficial idea.

"I think we're real pleased with it because we realize our students have had some trouble parking and when they're sick they may not feel like walking," Gustin said.

Student Health Services was notified of the validation system last week at a staff meeting, according to Gustin.

"Things progressed very quickly and we have the validation stamp now so people can start using it now," Gustin said.

According to Carla Lunsford, medical records clerk at Student Health Services, students had been complaining about trying to find parking near the health center.

"Students have always complained about not being able to park in our parking lot, this should help that," Lunsford said.

Although no student has used this service of yet, according to Lunsford, Gordon said he thinks it will be successful.

Gordon gave three reasons he felt this initiative would be a success: It provides ample parking for students that need to go to the health center, it frees up staff spaces where students illegally park and it helps students get the assistance they need at the health center so they can focus on academics.

"People are overlooking the obvious that (the Campus Avenue garage) is there if you need to go to the health center," Gordon said. "That's why we're so optimistic about it."

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