Friday, March 30, 2012

Resident freshman at Stonehill College argue that they should be allowed to park on campus


By Oliver Williams


Easton, Mass- Freshman at Stonehill College are not allowed to buy parking decals to park on campus.
“I feel that freshman should not have their cars on campus because during your first year on a college campus it is important that you become familiar with walking and learning more about your campus rather than driving from place to place,” said senior Tim Mathews.


A poll for class of 100 freshman students regarding whether or not they should be able to
have a car on campus showed 77 students agreed they should be allowed to have cars
while 20 students disagreed and three who had no preference
. “I think it's ridiculous that
freshman have to pay the same tuition as the upperclassmen but we cannot have our cars on campus,” said freshman student Nathan Robitaille.


Another poll found 25 upperclassmen questioned on whether or not freshman should have cars on campus showed that seven disagreed and eight agreed. leaving 10 who had no preference. Stonehill upperclassmen had also voiced their opinions.

“I think that plenty of freshman already have their cars here and it takes up spaces that belong to upperclassmen and the faculty at Duffy especially and the other parking lots as well,” said Junior Kevin Diamond.

Although the majority of freshman cannot park on campus, there are a few exceptions.

To purchase a parking decal you must be either a senior, junior, sophomore, or a commuter student at Stonehill College. In order to purchase a parking decal, you must pay for one with your Hill Card at Campus Police.


Freshman education majors are allowed to have cars on campus because they have to travel off campus to Brockton in order to work with educational youth programs. Those freshman who are not education majors, if ticketed, have to pay a 75 $ fine or pay a larger fine in order to get there car back from the towing service.


Police Chief Peter Carnes said, “We have a lot of issues regarding parking violations that usually end up in students appealing the tickets. The only way to get a parking pass as a freshman is by having a medical condition or otherwise a really good excuse,”


Others said it shouldn't be restricted to education majors as freshman athletes and freshman who are biology majors angered that they cannot have a car on campus.


“Living in the sem, it's difficult to get back to my room to take a quick nap or grab a book
because it takes away too much time for in between classes,” said freshman biology major Nina Johnson.


Freshman soccer player Ryan Rincon argued, “I believe some freshman athletes should be able to have there cars because it requires us to something have to drive off campus for team bonding or workouts”.


Stonehill's policy is not unique. Wheaton College campus police director , Jay Blanchard said "Yes, we allow our freshman to park on campus as long as they purchase parking decals,”. 


At Bridgewater State University, students are only allowed to purchase a parking decal if they have fifteen or more credits as a freshman college, otherwise your vehicle is subject to tow. Stonehill's campus police reported that they usually issue a good amount of tickets per month.

“It happens very often. However, try and get in touch with the student before having the car towed, especially if it is a freshman,” said Katherine Giobanni from Administrative Services at Stonehill College. 


“I think a lot of freshman have their cars on campus anyway” said Stonehill College sophomore Garrett Lessard. Some freshman said they bring their cars  because the penalty you face is a ticket that can be appealed. “There are definitely more than enough spots on campus between lot 17 the library, and the sem parking lot so I don't see the issue with freshman having spots on campus as well,” said senior Patrick Greene.






No comments:

Post a Comment