By Grace Long, Staff Writer
After a period of giving out mostly warnings, campus security says it is writing citations for students who fail to properly display parking permits.
The ticket carries a $25 fine, and the fine will go up after multiple violations.
Vehicles parked on campus are now required to have a free parking permit, which is supposed to hang from a vehicle’s rear view mirror.
Steve Patton, campus security director, said he isn’t tracking the number of warnings or tickets he issues but said the “vast majority” of citations up until Sept. 1 were warnings.
“The whole campus is a controlled-access facility,” he said. “Asking you to get a parking permit that doesn’t cost anything is not unreasonable.”
Newman has parking permits that correspond with three different types of lots: faculty and staff parking; resident student parking; and non-resident student parking.
Patton, a former Wichita police officer who took over campus security in October of 2023, said there are three reasons he is cracking down after the requirement wasn’t enforced last year.
First, Patton said, the parking permit is “a quick visual recognition” that the vehicle belongs on campus.
“I’m here to provide a safe environment,” he said. “It’s important to be able to recognize what belongs here and what doesn’t.”
Secondly, the parking permit allows campus security to make sure a vehicle is parked in the proper lot and space. Unauthorized student parking in handicap spots is the most common and expensive ticket he gives, Patton said, and comes with a $50 fine.
“I could care less about charging people money for bad parking – it’s a matter of changing behavior,” Patton said. “Stop parking where you don’t belong. Stop parking in handicap stalls. We have people who need those spots. Stop parking on the grass. Stop parking where you’re making a parking hazard out of yourself.”
Finally, a parking permit allows campus security to contact the driver of a vehicle if necessary. For instance, if Patton comes across a car left on campus for several days or a vehicle has a flat tire, a permit would help him locate the driver, he said.
Last October, when the Fugate parking lot was resurfaced, eight to 10 cars without permits were in the lot when workers arrived despite notices being posted.
“We’ve got a whole crew of people expecting to show up and work, and they’re standing around,” Patton said. “Time is money, and they’re getting angry because there’s eight cars in the parking lot. I’m standing there, and I don’t know whose cars they are.”
Patton said students can sign up for a permit by going to Jetstream, clicking on the “other services” tab, and then applying for the new permit. Once the permit application is processed and the permit assigned, the new parking permit can be picked up from the Clementine Security Building.
Patton said the easiest way to get a permit is to visit to his office in the Clementine Security Building and fill out the paperwork. In a matter of minutes, students can leave with a permit, he said.
“I want to ensure everybody is able to get a parking permit,” he said. “I’ve tried to make it as easy as possible.”
Parking Lot Designations
Parking Lot A: East of Dugan Library. Open parking for Students, Faculty, Staff and Visitors.
Parking Lot B: Northeast side of O’Shaughnessy Hall. Open parking for Students, Faculty, Staff and Visitors.
Parking Lot C: West side of DeMattias Hall. Open parking for Students, Faculty, Staff and Visitors.
Parking Lot D: West of Sacred Heart Hall. Staff and Faculty Parking only. Must have and display a Staff/Faculty Parking permit. (open parking after 3:30 pm Monday through Friday)
Parking Lot E: Merlini and Beata Halls. Parking for Residents of Merlini and Beata Hall students. Must have and display a Resident Parking Permit.
Parking Lot F: South side of Eck Hall and East side of Bishop Gerber Science Center. Faculty and Staff Parking only. Must have and display a Staff/Faculty Parking permit. (open parking after 3:30 pm Monday through Friday)
Parking Lot G: North and East of Carrocci Hall. Parking for Residents of Fugate Apartments and Carrocci Hall only. Must have and display a Resident Parking Permit. (Far east side is overflow parking for DeMattias Hall)
Parking Lot H: Between Soccer and Softball athletic fields. Open parking for all Students, Faculty, Staff and Visitors.
Parking lot on west side of Merlini Hall. This parking lot is for the Merlini Hall RA, Staff, and Students seeking treatment at the Athletic Trainer facility in Merlini Hall only.
Handicap Parking Stalls: Handicap parking stalls are designated across campus and are for use by guests with appropriate placards/licensing. Please be courteous enough not to park in disabled parking stalls without proper authorization. If you do, make sure to have your handicap placard properly displayed. The Wichita Police Department can and will write parking citations for handicap violations on private property and if these fines are not paid a warrant is issued.
Upon parking your vehicle on campus, remember to lock your vehicle and secure your valuables out of sight. There are individuals out there who walk through parking lots looking into cars for purses, wallets, bags, books, or any other items of value that are left out in plain sight.
PHOTO: Dannicka McGrath, Photographer
