In the busy fast-paced life of a college student, time is a valuable asset. Every moment of our time seems to be filled with something: attending classes, studying at the library, work, attending extracurriculars, and attending school events to name a few. With over 20,000 total students enrolled at the University of Toledo (including undergraduate and graduate students), and 79% (approximately 16,000) of those students being commuter students, finding parking spots that coincide with your parking permit can be difficult as they fill up quickly. With the number of commuter students projected to rise even further in the coming years, the already limited on-campus parking will become even more of an issue. 

The cost of a commuter parking permit at the University of Toledo is $125. With approximately 16,000 commuter students, the University makes around $2,000,000 a semester (around $4,000,000 a year!) off of commuter parking alone. This figure does not include the students that live on campus that have a car and pay for parking permits. Of all the students I've talked to, every single one of them has at one time or another received a parking ticket for parking on the campus they pay for. Another common theme amongst these students is that they received these tickets after spending a considerable amount of time trying to find an open parking space compatible with their parking permit, but being unable to (and fearing being late to class). With all the stress that college already brings to students, finding a valid parking space and fearing being late to class as a result of that should be the least of their worries. Ticketing these students is an atrocity, along with the various other money grabbing tactics the University imposes on the already depleted funds of the student body. At this point, it's no longer a parking pass. It's a hunting permit. 

On average, it costs around $8,500,000 to build a 5 story, 145,000 square foot parking garage that would provide an additional 775 parking spaces (give or take 50 spaces) for commuter students. With those figures, it would take a little over 2 years of parking permit revenue to build such a structure. As a University that claims to be student centered, a project of this caliber should be considered as a possibility. 

This petition is aimed to be the voice of all the students affected by the disaster that is University parking, as well as the faculty/staff affected and the alumni that were affected before us. Parking on campus has been an ever growing issue for generations, and at this point there's no excuse . This is also meant as a call to action aimed towards President Gaber, and the other administrative staff responsible for change. 

We the students have a voice and that voice will be heard as a collective, via the signatures of this petition. I will continue to be an advocate for positive change within the University, and will stop at nothing to have our voices heard and respected. Thank you for taking the time to read, consider, sign, and share this petition.