Theta Dempsey, director of Parking and Transit Services, spoke at the Student Congress meeting Tuesday to answer questions about parking.

Several representatives of Student Congress asked Dempsey questions about parking on campus.

"We have more empty parking spaces at peak times every day this year than we have had in five to six years," Dempsey said.

She named several reasons for the empty spaces.

"We keep building new parking," Dempsey said.

Also, more people are taking advantage of Cleveland Area Rapid Transit services on campus, Dempsey said.

Rod Jahromi, marketing sophomore, said there seem to be many empty faculty spaces on the east side on the fourth floor of the stadium parking garage.

Officials from Parking and Transit Services are anticipating losing 237 faculty spots due to the construction of the energy building, Dempsey said. This is why there may still be some empty spots in the stadium parking garage. Everyone is going to be shifted around, she said.

"The University of Oklahoma has more closer parking for students than any other university in the Big 12," Dempsey said.

Chris Brown, Congress representative, brought up the option of building underground parking garages.

"The cost is significantly more than above ground parking," Dempsey said.

Micah Carlson, Student Congress chairwoman and history junior, said before the meeting that they planned to discuss a concurring resolution with the University of Texas.

"We're asking the University of Texas student government to get involved in the debate to keep the Red River Rivalry in Dallas," Carlson said.

According to Tuesday's Student Congress agenda, the resolution, if passed, would ask that in the coming weeks and months the student congress of the University of Texas join with OU students in working to keep the Red River Rivalry at the Cotton Bowl.

Jon Haldeman, history senior and UOSA representative, authored the resolution.

"One of UOSA's purposes is to continue some of the things students value here," he said.

The chemistry building forum was also discussed in the meeting. The forum will be held in the Stephenson Research and Technology Center on Nov. 30, a UOSA representative said.

According to the meeting agenda, the congress was also scheduled to discuss an act that would establish restrictions on the use of Facebook.com during elections and an act consenting to the allocations for the Conoco Student Leadership Center.
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