What's the Deal with Parking Fees?

Transportation is a major key when it comes to school. This school year, many juniors and seniors started to get their own cars, and these students had to find their own way to school and back. A big issue that they encountered is parking. As our new building is built on FIU grounds, parking is not free for most students. To pay for parking, one must go into the FIU office and pay a total of 30 dollars per month. If this permit does not get renewed every month, they will charge you with a parking ticket of $20.

Speaking to some of the MAST@FIU students who have their own cars, we get to know their opinions on payment for their parking spots. Senior Yael Litwak claims, “ I believe we should have free parking for those who drive to school, mainly juniors and seniors. I believe that some schools charge money for parking as a fundraiser for their school. For MAST, our parking fees go towards FIU, which does not raise money for our classes or our own school projects. Some students struggle financially and that may prevent them from being able to pay the monthly 30$ fee, making it harder for their families to get their children to school. With free parking, students and their families wouldn't have to worry about paying an additional cost just to get to school.”

Gabriella Markovich, also a current senior who drives herself to school says, “ We should have free student parking because students who need to drive to school shouldn’t be obligated to pay an expensive monthly fee to park, especially since it’s to attend school.” A similar statement to hers was made by Siboney Mesa, who states that, “ Students at MAST with cars have access to all other free amenities that FIU has to offer as well as the fact that many student dont have another option than to drive themselves to school, and some students may not be able to afford the extra monthly parking fee.”

Another benefit of having a free parking zone for the students at MAST is that it could open many opportunities and fun activities available at other high schools in the area. An example of an activity which could be established is allowing students to decorate their own parking space with washable colors in order to make it unique to their own personality. With this, students would be opening their own world of creativity and the ability to express themselves to others.