To the Editor:
I am disturbed by the increase in the cost of parking for next year. I am a senior now and am graduating in May 2003. I feel that I should not have to pay the extra $60 to park in Portland. I would think that the juniors now would not want to pay $192 to park when they are seniors. It is not worth our money. I already put a lot of money into my education. not for parking.
Yes, there should be a parking garage built in Portland; however, not at the expense of students.
Faculty and staff should have to pay for the parking if the students have to pay for it. If they are going to obtain the other parking areas in Portland, there will be plenty of parking for them. This is totally not the faculty’s fault; however, they do park in the student lots. They should have to pay the fee as well.
The reason why the USM Police Department receives so many complaints about parking is because there is very little parking in Portland. There is a definite need for a parking garage, but raising the price for parking permits is not the way to receive the money. I would rather save that extra $60 to $100 and put it towards my graduate work rather than parking. A parking permit should not cost more than a car payment.
If students have to pay this new fee, there will be even more parking tickets issued because people will just refuse to get a permit. There are many vehicles now without parking permits on them. If the fee is raised, there will be even more. Parking in Portland is a huge issue. I agree that there needs to be a parking garage; however, there are more ways to raise the money than increasing the price of parking permits.
Darcy Langella
Senior social science major