Freshmen with Priority Housing permits have until 5 p.m. Friday to exchange their current parking permits for a regular Housing parking permit before they face a $125 fine.
Some freshmen were given the ability to purchase Priority Housing parking permits even though they did not qualify for them, due to a malfunctioning computer program that sells permits online.
“We were in the process of implementing a new computer program when the mix-up happened, and we regret what has taken place,” said Kris Glenn, spokesperson for OU Parking and Transit Services.
Priority Housing spots are reserved for upperclassmen and located in close proximity to the residence halls.
“When we found out that there was a problem, we notified the students who had the wrong permit that they needed to come in and make an exchange for the right one,” Glenn said.
Glenn said in order to qualify for a Priority Housing permit, a student must have lived in the residence halls for two semesters and completed 24 credit hours.
According to an open records request, 481 Priority Housing permits were issued, and 147 of them were accidentally given to freshmen. Of those, Glenn said 40 of them have willingly exchanged their permits.
But students who do not make the exchange soon could face consequences.
“Students who have been notified they have the wrong permit ... have until Friday Sept. 4 at 5 p.m. to go to the parking office to be issued the correct permit,” Glenn said. “If they do not get the correct permit, they can be cited for unauthorized use of a parking permit.”
According to the Parking and Transit Services Web site, a citation for using a stolen, forged, altered or unauthorized permit includes a $125 fine.
Glenn said students can be cited multiple times until they pick up the proper permit.
Upperclassmen who qualified for a Priority Housing parking permit said they have been inconvenienced by the mix-up.
“I have circled around the priority spaces many times, and then I would just give up and just end up doing a lot of walking,” said Lindsay Kolsrud, history senior and Couch Center resident. “[Knowing that freshmen have received Priority Housing permits] has been tough. I’ve been living in the dorms longer, and I should be able to park in those spaces.”
Other upperclassmen are taking the fiasco in stride.
“I was a bit surprised about it all and sort of disappointed,” Luke McConnell, journalism sophomore and Walker Center resident said.
McConnell said the only time he was inconvenienced by the mishap was when he was coming home from church on Sunday.
“It’s a bit unfair,” he said about the citation. “Parking [Services] made the mistake. They shouldn’t be punishing others for their mistakes.”
But some found the deadline and citation option to be a sign of relief.
“It’s nice to know that things are going to be sorted out,” Kolsrud said.
Kolsrud and McConnell said their trouble with the parking permit situation makes them wish there were more priority housing parking spaces.
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oustudent2013 2 years, 8 months ago
yeah it seems reasonable to me. I mean what if the ticket office screwed up and accidnetaly sent every student a ticket to a game, and you couldn't find a seat that you paid for because all of those students didn't wanna give up their reward for someone else's mistake? I know I'd be pissed. As long as they've given them plenty of time. But maybe they should get some sort of compensation, like a discount on the permits or something for the mistake.
kcreasey 2 years, 8 months ago
I got a Priority Housing permit my second freshman semester without problem. I had the hours but not the 2 semesters living there (I only had 1). I asked about getting the permit in the parking office and they said I qualified. Perhaps it was because I was living in Cate instead of the towers but perhaps not.
Anyways I was able to get it and keep it without incident. So was I really not supposed to have it that semester?
PenguinOtaku 2 years, 8 months ago
I agree with what Luke said, Parking Services messed up and now they want to bring down the hammer? Not classy.
oustudent2013 2 years, 8 months ago
"Kolsrud and McConnell said their trouble with the parking permit situation makes them wish there were more priority housing parking spaces."
Yikes! I remember freshman year living in the dorms and I would look for a spot for HOURS. It was pretty annoying, but the worst part was all of the EMPTY priority housing spots. Maybe there are more priority housers to fill them now, but I know there wasn't when I was in the dorms.
TheJR 2 years, 8 months ago
I agree with the above comment. When I was a freshman I could never find a spot while there were always tons of empty priority spots.
Anyway, the parking office may have screwed up, but they gave these people ample time to replace their permits so I fail to see why this is so unreasonable. It would be even more unreasonable if they allowed them to keep the permits, thereby screwing over those who legitimately deserved them and now can't find spots.
tayl4008 2 years, 8 months ago
if i were a freshman and parking services gave me the wrong permit i would tell them to come pry it from my hands. it's their fault, they can come get it themselves.
SoonerTexan88 2 years, 8 months ago
Haha, they wont come pry it from your hands--but they will ticket your car endlessly. We all know they are very good at that.
Yeah, it sucks if you are a freshman, but oh well, get over it. In one year you can get your own. Heck, I didn't even have a car my freshman year.