By Zach Pentoney

With the recent “Blizzard ’05,” an interesting situation has occured that many in the Northeastern community are probably not aware of, but it is rather disturbing.

Many students choose to bring their cars with them to college, often to aid them in getting to and from the jobs of Northeastern’s coveted co-op program. Another good number of these students park their cars in the free street spaces on Columbus Avenue and other streets to avoid the astounding $1,760 per year it costs for students to purchase day and night parking decals. This cost alone is enough for outcry, but most probably do not realize the disproportionate price of parking at Northeastern.

During snow emergencies, such as the recent storm, those who park in the free parking on the streets surrounding Northeastern must move their cars to allow for plowing. Also, interestingly enough, the Columbus Parking Garage becomes open for anyone from the Back Bay/Fenway community to park in free of charge, by simply displaying the residential parking sticker. Students that have a Northeastern decal, however, are still not allowed to park there, even during an emergency. We must move our cars to the Renaissance Garage or somewhere similar, for upwards of $30 a day.

I must ask why Northeastern has chosen to neglect its own students in this way. Not only is parking prohibitively expensive for most, but then Northeastern chooses to allow anybody from half of Boston to park in its garage during an emergency, while its own students get the shaft. I enjoy the co-op program and use my car constantly to reach my co-op. Should I have to choose a more accessible co-op because I cannot afford the permit? Or should I rather be forced to pay $30 a day to park in a garage that Northeastern owns when a snow emergency is in effect and free parking is down the street?

President Richard Freeland and Northeastern, let your students park in your garage in an emergency. Is that really so much to ask?

– Zach Pentoney is a middler communications major.