Maroon

              The MAROON Vol. 62, No. 3 Loyola University, New Orleans, Louisiana 70118 September 9, 1983 Parking plan may take effect soon By Tim Guillory The Residential Permit Parking plan, which would limit parking time in residential areas around the university, may go into effect this semester, according to Marcia St. Martin, parking administrator of the New Orleans Department of Streets. Councilman Bryan Wagner said that stricter enforcement of existing parking laws will be tried before adoption of the plan. Wagner said that if this proves insufficient to relieve the lack of available parking spaces for residents, all parties will be allowed to give input into a permit parking plan. "I predict that some plan will be needed. But I cannot say what that plan will be," Wagner said. "Some people say that enforcement alone will clear up the problem. No one will be happier than me if this happened." According to St. Martin, the plan at this time calls for a two-hour parking limit for those who would not have permits — non-residents of the neighborhood. Personnel would be hired by the city for enforcement. Fines for violators would be $15. The plan will be presented to the city council for consideration within the next several weeks. St. Martin said she is now meeting with special interest groups affected by the proposed ordinance to attempt to tailor implementation to the specific needs of the area. Boundaries for the areas would be set by the Parking Division of the Department of Streets and approved by the city council. Areas around the city that have expressed interest in and meet the appropriate conditions for the permit plan include Loyola and Tulane universities, the Vieux Carre, Marigny, Algiers Point, Mid-City, Lakeview and the Fairgrounds. St. Martin said the plan is a service provided by the city and administration of the plan would use funds generated by parking fines. The plan, as currently drafted, would primarily effect day division students who commute by car or motorcycle. This group constitutes about 60 percent of the student population, according to statistics compiled from the Center for Commuter Services' survey of 335 students in spring 1982. A resident on Palmer Avenue who is installing a driveway in her front yard said, "Loyola has not addressed the parking problem. They have talked to residents, but nothing more." She said she would favor a parking permit plan. St. Martin said that the plan "will serve to increase the number of students taking public transit." In a Commuter Services parking survey in March 1983, 57 percent of the 167 commuter students responding said they "would not be willing to ride public transportation even at a reduced rate." In the same survey, 52 percent said they "would not be willing to park on the Batture (behind Audobon Park) and shuttle to and from school " Charles Young, vice president for Institutional Advancement, said that there is "a lot wrong" with the existing proposal. He said that in early july he the proposal at a meeting attended by neighborhood residents, Wagner, St. Martin and members of Loyola's Parking Committee. He said he is waiting for another meeting to be called by St. Martin. The criteria for application of the plan, if approved by the city council, require that: • The street in question be primarily residential. • A majority of the households sign a petition seeking resident parking status for their block after a public hearing. • Seventy percent of the legal onstreet parking spaces must be occupied during the period proposed for parking restriction [in this case, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.] • At least 10 percent of those vehicles must have non-Orleans parish registration. Literature from the Department of Streets states, "The concept is politically popular as those who benefit comprise a cleariy identifiable constituency while those who lose parking rights are usually from outside the area." When asked what action Loyola's constituency might take to prevent the proposal, Deborah Reid -Bryant, director of Commuter Services, said, "The university has been trying to work cooperatively with the com•nunitv " The proposal states that permits will be issued for each legally registered motor vehicle owned by residents of the designated area, including motorcycles. In addition, full-time students who live in resident parking rones must provide proof of full-time student status, vehicle registration at the home address and proof of residency in the zone. Loyola Security aids city in ticketing cars illegally parked off-campus. — Photo by John McC usker Frat fights lead to investigation By Cynthia Donnelly Two fights between members of' Alpha Delta Gamma and Pi Kappa Theta fraternities are being investigated by Director of Loyola Security Alan Abadie. Several people sustained minor injuries in the fights. Vincent P. Knipfing, vice president for Student Affairs, requested the investigation. The fights allegedly took place Saturday and Sunday nights at Shanahan's, 6225 S. Claiborne Ave. ADG is a university-sanctioned fraternity. PKT is a former Loyola fraternity now seeking reinstatement. Knipfing revoked PKT's charter during spring 1982 after they left a state park in disarray. ADG President Pat Agnew and PKT President Chris Young acknowledged that their members were involved in the fights. The fights were broken up by New Orleans police, according to Chris Young. Knipfing said he did not know what disciplinary actions, if any, would be taken, because he does not have all of the details. PKT is not a recognized fraternity; therefore, the disturbance can't be considered a war between fraternities, Agnew said. "When the individuals in ADG act like this, behavior which is not becoming to the ideals of the fraternity, they're policed," Agnew said. "They're reprimanded by their brothers simply because we care about each other, and their actions as individuals do reflect on ADG." Young said, "I'm not excusing any of the actions of PKT or anything that happened. It was all wrong. All I'm saying is that to a certain extent they [ADG] can be blamed for part of the incident that happened this weekend."