Written by Mary-Catherine Dolan
Parking at Quinnipiac University is always a hot topic among students. With the increasing rate of the student population, Quinnipiac's parking spaces are not multiplying at the same pace. Parking is so coveted at Quinnipiac that many fundraisers for student organizations raffle off parking passes as first-place prizes. However, not everyone can park where they want to, even if they have passes. Freshmen cannot have cars at school or on campus—period. Sophomores can have cars at school, but they are required to park in lots that are off campus. On the York Hill (upperclassman) campus, juniors and seniors can park their cars in the parking garage, which is a little less than a quarter of a mile away from the residence hall. In the winter, this walk is very cold and unpleasant. Adding to the fact that York Hill sits atop a very high hill with large, gusty winds, most students dread the parking garage.
All commuters, juniors, and seniors are allowed to drive to campus for class and park in the big, main parking lot called North Lot. Over the past couple of years, this lot has gotten fuller earlier. If students don't get to North Lot by 9 a.m., they have to walk about 10 extra minutes to their classes from the second-best lot. Usually by 11 a.m., security will put up a sign that says "North Lot is full." Walk time to class from parking lots can sometimes reach 20 minutes. There is another parking lot to the right of North Lot that is known as the carpool lot. Students parking here must have one or more passengers in their vehicle. This lot is usually always full, as well. There is a designated security guard that makes sure students parking in the commuter lot have a high-occupancy vehicle.