Free, on-campus parking during the evenings will come to an end in all parking garages and some gated areas next semester.

In a newsletter mailed last month, UA Parking and Transportation Services told permit holders it will implement an evening permit system for the gated areas near the Harvill and Lowell buildings and all garages.

At $50 a semester, the parking permits would be sold to staff and students who wish to use these parking areas from 3:30 to 10 p.m., according to the newsletter.

These areas will have restricted access extended to 10 p.m., with entry allowed to individuals with annual and evening permits.

Marlis Davis, director of parking and transportation, said evening permits are for those who want guaranteed parking in those areas.

David Quanrud, a hydrology and water resources graduate student, collected 101 signatures from students and faculty who oppose the evening permit system.

In a letter to the Wildcat, Quanrud wrote that the new evening parking permit is unacceptable because it imposes additional hardships, both financial and potentially physical, on the campus populace.

"UA Parking and Transportation Services seems to be implying that individuals who do not purchase the evening permit will not enjoy 'close-in parking' and face an increased danger of being assaulted while walking the extra distance in the dark to their campus objective," Quanrud said in an interview.

Another concern with an evening parking system is that some people return to campus at night to work in buildings that are located in different areas of campus, he said.

"The proposed changes in evening parking would require the purchase of two separate permits to gain evening access to parking areas near these two buildings," he said. "This is entirely unacceptable."

Justin Marble, a hydrology and water resources graduate student who drives back to campus at night to do research, said there would be less space in the lots he parks in.

"It's kind of a pain that I would have to buy a permit for evenings," he said.

Donald Davis, professor of hydrology and water resources, serves as an alternate representative for the Campus Community Relations Committee, a neighborhood association for the area south of the University of Arizona campus.

He said he fears evening permits would force more people to park outside of campus.

"My concern is that by charging to park in those lots some people would park in the neighborhood in the evening," he said.

Parking and Transportation Services has received complaints about the permit system, Marlis Davis said, and is willing to discuss them.

One complaint about the evening permits is whether a permit holder should pay full price if that person already has one for the daytime, she said.

"We are going to have evening permits, but situations that arise like that I am willing to discuss," she said, adding that a parking and transportation meeting may be scheduled in order to resolve any issues.

Marlis Davis said in addition to the presence of cashiers until 10 p.m., a parking enforcement officer and other security will be checking on parking garages, lots and gated areas.

Quanrud said the implementation of an evening permit system by Parking and Transportation Services is an ill-guided attempt to make money.

"Most of the people I spoke to thought it was just a way for them to generate revenue," he said.

Marlis Davis said she did not know how many evening parking permits will be sold, but that it is a low estimate.

"It was necessary with the growth of extended campus and evening classes," she said. "With Main Gate to be open until 10 p.m., we decided to be consistent."

In the fall semester Quanrud said he will continue to come to campus during the evenings and is not sure what he will do if the evening permit system were to remain.

"I guess I'll have to bite the bullet and buy one," he said, "but I would do so only under protest."