Students arriving on the Sacramento State campus Monday morning had 250 fewer parking spaces to choose from, as a portion of Lot 4 was officially closed.

The lot will be closed for a year while contractors build a second parking structure that will contain 1,000 parking spaces. Until that structure is opened, more students will have to park in the gravel overflow parking lot at the South end of campus.

Freshman Elaine Olinger usually arrives on campus Monday mornings at 7:45 and parks in Lot 4. Instead, she had to park in Lot 8 behind the Library.

“It was an inconvenience for me ? I think that?s really dumb for them to build it now,” Olinger said, adding that she felt the lot should not have been closed until winter break.

As with most changes, most students will adapt to the change in parking, but some were less than thrilled at the idea of having to parking in the overflow lot.

“I refuse to park in the overflow lot,” said Robert Davis, a senior Computer Science major.

“I?d rather just turn around and go home.”

However, Davis had been prepared for the closure of the lot.

“I expected it, but it doesn?t make it any less irritating,” he said. “I?ll just walk and curse the whole time.”

Davis said he wished the structure was being built on the larger overflow lot instead of in Lot 4.

“Instead of blocking spots, they could put it in the overflow and it could be a lot bigger,” Davis said.

“By the time they get it done, this won?t even make a difference,” he added.

Olinger echoed his sentiments, saying that the continually increasing population at Sac State will continue to cause parking issues.

“You?d think it would be better, but they?ll just let in more students, so it won?t be beneficial,” she said.

Not all students criticized the new parking structure, and some felt it would greatly ease the parking situation on campus.

“In the long run, it will be better,” said Tim Brown, a graduate student in the teacher credential program. “But next semester will be awful.”

Brown said his fiancee arrives on campus in the mid-morning, and parking is already difficult for her.

“She has to park almost in Stockton,” Brown said.

Erika Kato, a freshman psychology major, didn?t notice any difference when she arrived on campus at 12:30 p.m. Monday, as did several other students.

“It wasn?t bad; I parked a little farther out (than normal),” said Brian Starkovich, a senior Engineering major. “But I have a 10:30 class tomorrow, so that?ll be interesting.”

Overall, students seemed to be resigned to the closed lot, although several cars were seen driving up to the lot and turning around in confusion. The lot was fenced off, and maps directed students to other parking lots on campus.

“I?ll be able to deal with it,” said senior Nick Kordich.