Parking Is Tough SDSU Subject at Registration

At San Diego State University, where students’ drive for academic excellence has sometimes taken a back seat to the simple search for a parking space, enrollees at the first day of walk-in registration on Tuesday were taking one anxious step at a time.

Many students expected a continued struggle with the school’s chronic parking shortage, which intensified last year when the surrounding neighborhood streets were restricted to residents’ cars during daytime hours. But most students were content to let that battle wait around the corner while they struggled to schedule classes and find a place to live before classes start Sept. 3.

“This is the worst part,” said graphic arts major Wally Fiorentini, who was hanging around the Student Help Center stand. “This is about as traumatic as finals--getting what you need and making it fit into your life.”

Parking was no problem this week, with only a few thousand of the school’s 33,000 students coming through the campus each day. The administration even gave students until next week to buy their $33.75 a semester parking stickers for school lots. “That way they can never complain we didn’t meet them halfway,” said university security officer Pete Peterson.

But that generosity didn’t extend to a handicapped parking lot, where sophomore Troy Williams got one of the first tickets of the new season.

“I was only gone five minutes,” he said, staring in disbelief at the $50 citation and expressing his anger at school administrators. “They’re just raking in the money.”

Tickets also were evident on a few cars parked on streets near the campus, which were made off-limits to students in July, 1984, after residents successfully lobbied for a 30-block residents-only parking zone. The San Diego City Council passed the measure to force the university to come up with more of its own parking. Since the zone went into effect, SDSU has leased two lots connected to the campus by shuttle, opened an unpaved lot and started construction on an $8-million, five-story parking garage that will have 2,000 spaces.

Unfortunately, “we’re losing some (parking) spaces during construction,” said Larry Piper, SDSU facilities and transportation planner. “Just what we need. I guess we have to lose spaces to gain spaces.” The five-story garage is expected to open in the spring.

People who live near the campus, who said they suffered through years of congested streets, litter and noise before the zone was adopted, said their streets have been relatively car-free in the past year.

“To a point, we could actually ease up a little on (the students),” said 22-year resident Harland Doud. “They’ve been pretty heavy with the tickets on the kids.”

On Tuesday, the students had other loads to bear. Sitting on steps outside the registration hall, they examined three white boards listing classes while music from the campus radio station blared behind them. Was the music helping the students puzzle out their programs? “Probably not,” said Jessica Schwartz, the station’s promotions director, shrugging.

The radio station wasn’t alone in trying to take advantage of students’ first-day curiosity for anything having to do with school. A Sparkletts water salesman was trying to make a few friends despite a display inhibited by university guidelines. “You can’t give out water or nothing,” he complained. However, a Christian students’ group managed to distribute free ice cream cones.

A new fraternity trying to colonize on campus distributed flyers, but members acknowledged that their pitch--alcohol-free rush parties--might limit their appeal. “We don’t want numbers,” said senior Jim Loney. “We want men of quality.”

On a cluttered bulletin board, students advertising for roommates bid for attention using pictures of royalty or catchy slogans (“Do you surf/Are you going to school/I got the place that’s really cool”). A trio of kangaroos advertised Geography 339, a course covering Australia and New Zealand.

Near the bulletin board, a blackboard advertised last-minute vacation packages to Mazatlan and Puerto Vallarta, but three new “San Diego Teleguide” computerized displays proved more appealing to students officially putting the joys of summer behind them.

“You’re curious,” said junior Gavin Warlaumont, watching the computer screen. “You want to push the little buttons.”