More parking for on-campus residents and shuttle stops were the main issues voiced by the only two students who attended the Parking and Transportation Services Symposium yesterday.

Benjamin Steers, management information systems junior, said he attended the meeting to represent the interests of Residence Life.

Steers voiced his concerns over the lack of parking spaces on the weekends near his residence hall because spaces are reserved for distinguished persons attending events at the Centennial Hall.

Marlis Davis, Parking and Transportation director, said, "Lots of (students in) dorms don't have places to park. Centennial Hall is not going to go away, so I don't know what to tell you."

She did offer to pass the comment on to the director of the Associated Students Escort Services. Escort Services provides transportation to the campus community within a two mile radius of campus and has a walking escort program. However, neither program operates Fridays or Saturdays.

About seven Parking and Transportation employees attended the symposium at the Memorial Student Union Tucson Room, in which officials heard comments and suggestions for next year's parking program. The series of four parking symposiums began yesterday and will continue through the end of the month.

"The meetings seem to be about what can be done for the employees that work at the UA," Steers said. "They need to focus on who's paying their salaries - the students."

Dana Deaton, senior landscape artist, requested more shuttle stops.

"It is inconvenient to wait for a shuttle that is going to drop you off further than you need to go and then walk back to your destination," she said.

Davis said adding more stops to shuttle routes would not be a problem and the department would begin working on the solution.

Andie Graessle, program coordinator who has been with Parking and Transportation for the last seven years, said the department "is trying to become more customer oriented."

"We always try what ever it takes to make it work before we say no," she said.

Steers also brought up the lack of parking spaces compared to the increase in enrollment over the years.

According to the office of Decision and Planning Support, enrollment increased by 3,208 students between 1985 and 1995. The number of parking spaces over the same time period increased by 94.

Davis said, "I don't want to have a space for every person who drives to campus."

"We need to promote alternative transportation," she said.

Steers said finding a parking space and keeping it is a problem for students that live on campus.

"Those of us who have to live, work, and go to school on campus should have priority over those who just work or go to school (at the UA)."

Steers questioned Davis about the parking situation, "You park outside your home. Why should I not be able to have a parking space outside my home?"

Davis said there is always a fight to get more parking areas.

The three other symposiums are scheduled for today in the University Medical Center DuVal Auditorium, Nov. 21 in McClelland Hall Room 131 and Nov. 26 in Memorial Student Union Room 256. Each symposium is scheduled to last from noon until 1 p.m.

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