Student Government approved the launch of a parking ticket relief pilot program for students during their Senate meeting Wednesday. To be eligible, students must apply to the program and work two to three hours, depending on the parking ticket, at the Students Helping Our Peers (SHOP), a student-run food pantry on campus.

“We’re not trying to give students more work; they’re already super busy as it is,” Bob Carver, director of affordability, said. “So just giving them two to three hours of good volunteer work, not adding too much stress to their schedule, they’re still getting their parking tickets paid off and they’re still able to do the most important thing here, which is being a student.”

According to Carver, when the bill was initially created last year, the minimum amount for an illegal parking ticket was $30. The relief was set to cover a maximum of $50. Over the summer, the minimum rate was raised to $50, which caused the Senate to raise the maximum ticket coverage to $60, allowing for the raised ticket prices. The program will only cover one parking ticket per student per academic year.

“The idea of this is to get people involved in the community and do something that matters,” Mytch Hagan, director of academic affairs, said. “Rather than have someone just say, ‘Okay, I’ll just pick up an extra shift at work to pay for the ticket,’ now they’re actually getting involved and doing something.”

The SHOP food pantry, which is in constant need of volunteers, provides essential services to combat food insecurity.

“Overall, this bill is strategizing to make sure our students are helping each other and creating a more vibrant community,” Carver said. 

Additional measures

The Senate approved the advertising budget for the new “Message the Mayor” submission tool, which allows students to submit suggestions to city officials, propose new programs and give input on local issues. Submissions will be delivered bi-monthly to the mayor and City Council by the Ex-Officio.

In addition, Sen. Abhiraj Agarwal, a sophomore in supply chain management, and Josh Poe, a senior in history, were seated on the PR Committee through a unanimous vote. 

Furthermore, the following were seated to the finance committee:

• Sen. Hemanthsai Peddasani, a sophomore in computer engineering
• Sen. Reindl Weaver, a graduate student in business administration 
• Sen. Samantha Jones, a sophomore in elementary education
• Sen. Tadiwa Mbuwayesango, a senior in finance
• Sen. Jonathan Nevenhoven, a senior in accounting
• Sen. Noah Kammeyer, a sophomore in political science