BY SARAH HERRING
Despite commuters having 162 designated parking spots, an increase of commuters at Stonehill College have led students to face difficultly with finding commuter parking spots.
The classes of 2023, 2024 and 2025 have had 7.8 percent, 9.8 percent, and 12.3 percent of the student body enrolled as commuters.
Enrollment data from Stonehill states 230 students are currently enrolled as commuters which has increased since 2018.
Crystal G. Chojnowski, a commuter student is one of the many frustrated commuters with the number of parking spots designated for commuters that are near the academic buildings.
“I feel as if it is difficult for commuter students to park, which I feel shouldn’t be a problem for a large commuter school. Most of the accessible commuter parking is further from the academic buildings. This is when it becomes challenging,” said Chojnowski.
Commuter lots are the purple spots in the Chapel of Mary, Roche North Lot, and the Student/Visitor Lot.
In the fall semester, 231 parking tickets were issued to commuter students by Campus Police.
Stonehill Police Chief Ryan said the existing numbers of parking spots is not a problem.
“I believe there is enough parking for commuter students. Commuter parking is available in the Sports Complex South lot (20 spaces), Chapel Lot (74 spaces), Roche North Lot (55 spaces) and the Student Lot 17 (13 spaces). In addition, commuter students may also park in the 700+ spaces in the Student Visitor Lot,” Ryan said in an email.
Commuter Haley Whittaker, who lives 20 minutes from campus, also had trouble with finding commuter parking spots quickly. It takes Whittaker about 5 to 10 minutes to find a parking spot.
“I find it challenging when having a longer commute to find a parking spot that is close to my classes. Sometimes I am not able to get to school on time to park in the farther commuter lots and to still make it on class on time. Often, the Chapel of Mary lot is full,” Whittaker said.
With more students commuting than in previous years, this has not been the first- time students have expressed frustration.
Ryan said in the email, “In the past, commuter students have expressed concern regarding parking. We are happy to work them to address these concerns. Commuter students have more parking spaces available now than years past.”
Even with the increase in commuter spots, many students say that it is still not enough.
Commuters are allowed to park in lots with purples lines, and residential students are supposed to park in lots with white lines. Residential students have been seen parking in commuter lots, which takes away parking from commuters.
The Commuter Committee serves as the voice of commuter students and provides a platform for students to discuss changes and to enhance commuter life at Stonehill College. Concerns can be addressed by emailing commutercouncilgroup@stonehill.edu.
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