Fitchburg State University parking has continuously been an issue for residents and has shown no signs of improving. As a resident of Fitchburg State, I have purchased parking passes each year. This fall, the price for resident parking was set at $150. This alone is a high price but to be able to have access to close parking seemed to make the cost more reasonable. However, there are currently only three residential lots close to on-campus housing (North 1 by Aubuchon, Upper Cedar by the Townhouses, and the Simonds Hall lot). All other lots on campus are for commuters or more abundantly, staff and faculty.

I myself live in the Townhouse buildings and was surprised to find out my first day that all parking in front and behind the Townhouses is not for the residents but for staff and faculty instead. The two Cedar lots are not even both for residents despite being connected. Street parking on Cedar is also not allowed for on-campus residents. Upper Cedar is the only close option for Townhouse residents and it is not a big enough lot for everyone who has bought a parking pass to park. This results in many students having to park in faculty parking or the street parking and then being ticketed. This has happened on many occasions to a multitude of students. When this issue was brought to the faculty at the Housing Office and Parking Services, we were rudely told that our only option was to park in the Civic Center if resident lots were full and that parking passes do not guarantee a parking space. When we asked for a refund because it seemed to not be worth paying the $150 if we would ultimately have to park in the Civic Center free parking anyways, we were told that parking passes are nonrefundable. This isn't only a Townhouse issue either. North 1 parking, though larger, also fills up very quickly leaving many students out of luck. Upper Cedar parking also adds to this issue as when Upper Cedar fills up, the next closest resident parking area is across campus at North 1. 

Having the only options for parking (once your designated lot is full), be those across campus from your building or the Civic Center causes an issue for safety as well, especially as a woman. I have experienced having to park across campus from my building and every time, a male friend has insisted on coming with me because they don't want me walking back by myself at night. This applies, even more, to having to park in the Civic Center if the shuttle has stopped running. If the shuttle is still running, the other issue with specifically living in the Townhouses or Mara is that there is no close shuttle stop to those buildings. The closest is outside of Hammond and if Hammond is closed, which it often is at night, residents are still expected to walk alone across campus. A police escort is available however, there is still the wait time which can be frightening if you are alone at night and, the police escort has you sit in the back of the car where the doors are locked from the inside. Although it is a police officer and they are supposed to protect others, this, as we have seen in recent news, is not always the case. Consequently, being picked up by a stranger and having to sit in the back with no way of getting out on your own can be a very anxiety-filled experience regardless of whether or not the individual giving the ride is a police officer. 

If this petition gets enough signatures our main goal is to expand resident parking. The students who live here have the least amount of parking when we are the ones who need it and use it the most. The Fitchburg State Campus is our home for half the year. We should have enough accessible parking if we are paying the hefty price of $150 in addition to paying room and board with our tuition. 

Other lesser goals from this petition would be to wave existing tickets that have lost their appeals due to issues residents have faced (as stated above), make parking passes refundable, and stop the oversell of parking passes.