The University of Massachusetts Student Government Association launched a new program Thursday to assist students impacted by parking tickets on campus. Spearheaded by Jessika Antinori, the Chair of the Undergraduate Services Committee, the program brought together the SGA and UMass Parking Services to create a way for students to have their parking tickets revoked.

“If it’s your first parking ticket, you can email John King and we can revoke that ticket for you,” explained Abhishek Kasula, a freshman biochemistry and psychology double major and a member of the Undergraduate Services Committee. Kasula went on to explain that if a student had more tickets, USC was there to assist them. “If you email us and we can review why you got your ticket and how you got that ticket and something you learned about the SGA today […] we can choose ten people and get their parking ticket revoked.”

According to a recent Collegian op-ed, tickets issued by UMass Parking services can be up to $60. Additionally, UMass ran out of parking spots for students early on. “Parking Services experienced extraordinary demand for student parking this semester,” a press release by UMass Parking Services explained. “On campus residents without a parking permit should return their vehicle back home or secure parking off campus,” the release continued. 

“The SGA Undergraduate Services Committee is working to help students with the financial burden of paying off expensive parking tickets,” Antinori said. “To do so, we negotiated with the Parking Services Manager, Jon King. Jon King agreed to revoke the first parking ticket any student gets without having to go through the appeals process. In order to do so, students simply email Jon King at [email protected].” 

“Tomorrow at 3:00 p.m., our committee will convene and select 10 student winners from the submissions who will be able to get any one of their parking tickets revoked for free,” Antinori added. 

“The event is not only a great way for people to get out of a parking ticket, but it’s a great way to promote the SGA and let people know we really want to work for them and help them,” Julia Curto, the newly appointed Speaker of the SGA, said. 

“Jess [Antinori] is and has always done incredible work with USC and this truly shows how much she cares about the students here at UMass. I couldn’t have asked for a better person to chair this committee,” Curto added.

Alex Genovese can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @alex_genovese1.