Even with more than eight parking lots and two multi-level parking structures, EC students are still struggling to find parking on campus during the first week of classes.

Students like Ernesto Ortiz, 24, undecided major, say that it’s not unusual to see students circling not just the parking lots, but in fact the entire school.

“I first tried to park in one of the lots next to Redondo Beach Boulevard but I ended up in the five-level parking structure after I looped around the school,” Ortiz said.

However, new students like Krystal Rohas, 19, Sign Language/interpreter major, are at an even bigger disadvantage than most.

“My coach told me to park here, but I had to look for a spot for 20 minutes,” Rohas said. “I didn’t really know anywhere else to park and the multi-level parking structure is really confusing for new students,” she added.

Some students with early classes, such as Gualberto Rabanales, 19, philosophy major, had an easier time finding parking, but said that it still wasn’t a sure thing.

“Actually, because I have an early class it wasn’t that hard to find parking, but if you’re even a little late it just gets really hectic, with all the construction and students circling around,” Rabanales said.

While many expect the parking situation to calm down within the next few weeks, students have no choice but to grit their teeth and deal with it.

“I had a class at 11:45 a.m. yesterday, and the parking was just complete hell,” Ortiz said.