For an hour on Wednesday, Feb. 15, a small band of students tried to make their voices heard at Stony Brook University’s West Campus fountain — nearly a week after the Mobility and Parking Services (MAPS) proposed to switch to a fully-paid parking model in August 2023. 

This semester, commuter students who wish to park their vehicles in Lots 2, 3, 5 and 6a are required to purchase a Commuter Premium Permit for $112.50. Having two separate commuter parking plans has proven to be controversial.

Not only did Stony Brook take away Chavez-Tubman parking, they also took away Mendelsohn, H Quad and free commuter parking, replacing it with commuter premium parking which requires a parking pass that students have to pay $112.50 per semester to use.