By CANDACE MIERS

Staff Writer

The new University Park Apartments have brought more sophisticated living quarters for Tech students, but have not eliminated dorm parking problems.

David Parker, a resident of the apartments and a junior graphic design major, is enjoying his new home with his roommates.

Parker said an aspect the residents share is one parking lot. All five buildings of the Park Apartments have to share the same parking lot. According to Student Life records, there are about 100 parking spaces. Housing records have listed 188 residents of the apartments.

"I used to park across the street, but the girls kept getting mad," Parker said, referring to Sorority Lane.

Sorority meetings have been held to discuss the parking problems, Nicole Chico, president of the Pan-hellenic Council, said. She is taking suggestions on how to fix the matter.

Ray Spoon, a Tech traffic clerk and a graduate student in psychology, said Sorority Lane is not university parking, therefore, vehicles in that parking lot cannot be ticketed.

Since the lane is privately owned, the Panhellenic Council will start towing all vehicles that do not have permission to park on Sorority Lane, Chico said.

"I don't want to walk to class, I want to drive," Parker said. "When I get home, there isn't any parking left."

Parker will not be discouraged for long, according to Dickie Crawford, dean of student life. Crawford said by the end of fall quarter there will be an additional 300 parking spaces that will extend to Bearcat Drive and behind the Maxie Lambright Intramural Sports Center.

March will bring another 200 spaces for residents across Alabama Avenue. Around the side of the Pi Kappa Alpha and Sigma Nu fraternity houses will be gravel parking, also for the apartment residents. "We are trying to do the best we can," Crawford said. "The bids for contractors will be awarded next week, then construction can begin."

Some residents have no complaints.

Justin Lambert, a University Park resident and a junior mechanical engineering major, believes the little problems are all worth it.

"I like being able to take a shower and not worry about catching diseases if I don't wear flip flops," Lambert said.

Proximity is another benefit of living in the apartments. Lambert said, "I have all the benefits of living off campus, like overnight guests and my own bedroom, but I can get to class in five minutes."