As a student at Fresno City College, why do we have to pay for parking when we already have to pay for school?
For a single 18 week semester at FCC, students have to pay $30 for a parking permit to be able to park on campus. If students have classes four days a week it seems like it’s worth it. If students do not buy a permit for the semester they have to pay for daily permits which is $1 a day.
$1 a day four days a week is $16 a month. Five months is $80 a semester which is a lot for college students to spend on parking alone. If a student like myself were to lose their parking permit they would have to call the parking bureau or not park on campus.
I thought I almost lost my parking permit this semester, so to avoid getting a ticket I called the FCC parking bureau to see what I had to do about a lost parking permit. The FCC parking bureau said I would have to pay $17 for a replacement parking permit.
I find it ridiculous to have to pay $17 for a lost/stolen parking permit when we already just paid $30 for a parking permit for the semester.
Not all vehicles must have paid permits to park. People who ride motorcycles get free parking permits, while those that drive cars have to pay for their permits. It is unfair because all vehicles should get free parking permits like motorcycles do, or motorcycles should pay for their permits.
College is already expensive without having to pay for parking. Community college students should get free parking especially since not all students can afford to pay for a parking permit. It is not like there is a lack of parking spots or a need, there is plenty of space.
Joseph Dominguez, a video production major at FCC, feels it is a bit unnecessary as students can not even get through the day.
“So paying $30 for a semester is kinda crazy to think about because I’ve had the circumstances of not having $30 to pay,” Dominguez said.
Students from California are complaining about having to pay for parking at community college, but what about the students that have to pay out-of-state tuition at community college?
“It definitely puts stress on me. I’m an out-of-state student so I have to pay my monthly payments and it’s not easy. You have to add that and then you have to add gas, food and all these things,” Dominguez said.