If students are having trouble finding a parking spot on campus, sophomore accounting major Robert Eaglen thinks they should come to campus a little earlier.

“At 8:50 a.m. commuter lots have plenty of spaces available,” he said.

Parking Services manager Larry Emling said there is available commuter space every day — it’s just not always in the lots students want to park in.

Emling said the commuter lots by Lincoln Street and behind Verder Hall fill up the fastest. But lots by the Science center, the recreation and wellness center and the ice arena usually have plenty of spaces available.

Senior Nursing major Stephanie Dinarda said she usually doesn’t have problems finding an open spot in most commuter lots. She parks in the C-Science lot regularly because it’s close to her classes in Henderson Hall. Dinarda drives 45 minutes from Massillon to Kent State every day.

“The only reason I’m ever late is because of interstate traffic, not because of campus parking,” she said.

On Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, finding a spot in either the lot behind Verder Hall or by Lincoln Street is very difficult, Emling said.

Tuesdays and Thursdays are the most crowded days on campus. “After 10:00 a.m. it’s going to be harder to find a space, but they are still available,” Emling said.

In order to help students find open commuter spaces, Parking Services has used electronic signs to direct students to additional parking areas.

“People say they wait 45 minutes for a spot. Instead, they could cut out half an hour if they park a little further to class,” Emling said. He suggests students could also ride a bus instead of walking the extra distance.

Rules and times for commuter lots are listed on signs in each lot and on the back of the commuter passes. He encourages students to call Parking Services if they have any questions about when and where they can park.

All commuter lots are closed between the hours of 3 a.m. and 6 a.m.

“We don’t want to become a storage lot for the nearby apartment buildings,” Emling said.

The problem is students have limited space available at their apartment buildings, so they want to overflow into the commuter lots.

For those who need to occasionally park overnight there is another option. Non-restricted staff lots on Midway Drive are available for students who may need to park overnight. However, students must vacate those spots by 7 a.m.

Contact transportation reporter Erica Weisburn at [email protected].