The opening of new parking spots for students around campus has helped alleviate some overcrowding issues.

The Government of the Student Body initiated a project to address the issue by working with the ISU Parking Division to make parking on campus more available to students.

The spots, which were opened in the fall of 2014, are free for students and faculty to use during nights and weekends.

Carlton Stripe, director of university affairs, said the Parking Division agreed to open the 98 additional spots around campus.

Previously, these spots were restricted 24 hours a day. Now, they are restricted from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and are otherwise available for student use.

Mike Hoefer, vice president of GSB, was involved in the project as well and said the project is not necessarily something students need to notice.

“If there’s more parking and they use those spots, that’s the best way that matters that they’re able to make it to campus when they need to,” Hoefer said.

GSB President Hillary Kletscher, said she and Hoefer decided to take action on the issue during their campaign for GSB president and vice president.

“The new parking spots were created because students recognized a general need for more parking on campus, especially at night for student organizations and studying,” Kletscher said.

She began working on the project in March of 2014.

“The idea arose from conversations we had with students from every area of the student body,” Kletscher said.

Work on the project began by completing a “parking walk-around.”

“We had broken GSB up in groups and walked around campus just looking at parking spots and parking meters that could serve as weeknight-free and weekend-free for students,” Stripe said.

Stripe said they then sent a formal recommendation to Mark Miller, Parking Division manager, on ideal locations.

The Parking Division then conducted its own research on the location of the spots, based off of the renewal of 24/7 parking passes.

The signs were then changed during the summer 2014 session, and were open immediately for the fall semester.

Hoefer said GSB has seen positive feedback from this.

“It’s something I hope we continue every year,” Hoefer said. “I hope students will continue to get involved in helping the administration make these decisions on how parking should be run on campus.”

Kletscher said students are still concerned about parking.

“But we now have a tangible change that was accomplished that can be shared with students,” Kletscher said.

Stripe said this project is a good foot in the door for looking at other implementations with parking with the new executive cabinet.