To alleviate some of the campus parking problems for graduate students, a new policy for controlling permits for Parking Lot 10 has been developed, channeling applications through the Graduate Student Association to determine which students are eligible for spaces.

Under the former plan, graduate students had to apply through their department for a place in the Aerospace parking lot located near the bus station and the golf course. However, GSA President Ken Martin said many departments are not willing to spend time to issue the permits under the new plan.

"The current procedure isn't working," Martin said, "and the permits are not being utilized."

The plan is scheduled to begin sometime this month, and Martin said GSA will accept applications and determine if students meet the criteria established for the lot. A list of students will be given to the parking office, which will distribute up to 55 permits, Martin said.

According to the new criteria, all degree-seeking graduate students with office or laboratory space or responsibilities in the western part of campus can apply for parking. Priority, however, will be given to students with responsibilities in both west and east campus, such as a student with office hours in Hammond Building and other duties in the research building.

Students must have registered their vehicles to drive on campus before applying for space in Lot 10.

Buildings in west campus include Applied Sciences, Electrical Engineering East and West, Engineering Units A-E, Kern, Mineral Sciences, Rec Hall and Willard.

If too many students apply for a space, Martin said, a lottery may be conducted. Martin said GSA will send letters to University department heads and GSA delegates about the proposal and a request list is expected by March 19.

Graduate students who now park in Lot 10 must reapply for a space when they purchase a new parking permit. Martin said anyone who has a permit now can still use it.

The lot was originally constructed for graduate assistants who work on the west side of campus, said David Stormer, assistant vice president for University safety.

It is not being used to capacity because of the "inability to identify those students with critical needs," Stormer said.

Anupa Bajwa (doctoral student-aerospace engineering) can park on campus only at night. She said it would be more convenient for her to park in Lot 10 since the location is close to her work responsibilities in Hammond, Willard and Electrical Engineering Building, West.

Jackie Huntoon (graduate-geosciences) walks or rides her bike to campus because she lives nearby. She said she never knew about the lot and knows of no one who parks there now.

GSA will compile the list of permit requests, Stormer said, because they are "in a better position to do so."