For many SUNY Cortland students, the day does not start in the classroom. Instead, it begins with circling parking lots, checking for empty spaces on the hill, and constantly keeping an eye on the clock. Hoping and praying that today is not the day they end up late or get ticketed simply for trying to go to class. At SUNY Cortland, parking has evolved from a minor annoyance to a daily struggle that continually degrades students’ academic performance and overall college experience.
The core of the issue is simple. There are more students with cars than there are parking spaces. This imbalance forces students to leave very early to secure a spot, adding unnecessary stress to college students’ already packed schedules. Some would say that commuter students are hit harder by this problem since they fully rely on parking availability to attend classes, jobs, or any campus activity. When the lots fill up early in the morning, late-day commuters are left figuring out solutions that may not exist. Even students who live on campus are not spared. Many people still rely on cars for off-campus jobs, internships, grocery runs, or family responsibilities. However, parking near the dorms fills up very fast, pushing students further away and increasing safety concerns during late hours or bad weather. Before students even set foot on campus, they are haunted by the fear of not knowing if a spot will be available.
Parking policies further worsen the situation. High permit costs do not guarantee a spot, leading students to pay for unreliable access while struggling to afford other necessities. Ticketing policies penalize students making unavoidable choices between missing class and risking fines, reinforcing a sense of unfairness. This system punishes students for circumstances outside their control instead of addressing the parking issue at its root. Poor parking can also affect campus morale. Starting the day frustrated almost every day of the week brings a tone into classrooms and interactions on campus. Over time, the daily stress continues on to burnout and dissatisfaction with being a college student. For a school like SUNY Cortland to promote students’ success and their well-being, it is a contradiction that speaks volumes. Students get frustrated and dissatisfied with a system that charges them without consistently delivering.
Improving the parking situation will not be easy, but ignoring it cannot be a solution. Expanding parking areas, revisiting permit pricing, and reassessing the ticket policies are more meaningful steps to fixing this issue at SUNY Cortland. Fixing the parking problem would be a strong start to proving that these values apply in practice. Parking might not seem like much, but for students who deal with it regularly, it serves as a constant reminder that they are not being heard. Resolving the parking issue would be a good place to start when demonstrating that SUNY Cortland’s ideals are lived out in practical ways.
Fixing the parking problem would be a strong start to proving that the university’s stated values—community, excellence, and integrity—apply in practice. Currently, there is a disconnect between the institution’s ideals and the logistical reality on the ground. Parking might not seem like a high-level academic concern, but for students who deal with the daily hunt for a legal space, it serves as a constant, draining reminder that their practical needs are being sidelined.