Opinion: The Stress of the Daily Commute
One of the biggest concerns for commuter students this year is the change in where we are allowed to park. Commuters are no longer allowed to park in the Dean Hall parking lot, which used to be a convenient choice for students coming to campus for class. Instead, all commuters now must park in the Jones lot, which is found on the opposite end of campus from many of the classrooms.
For students who commute, this change can make getting to class much more difficult. Instead of parking closer to the buildings where our classes are held, students must park farther away and walk across campus adding additional time to students already busy and rigidly scheduled days. An anonymous senior stated, “It's a little annoying that most of my classes are in the student center, which adds to my daily commute time which is already long.” This means commuters need to give themselves additional time just to get from their cars to their classrooms.
If you arrive close to the start of class, you may find yourself sprinting across campus just to make it on time. Another anonymous senior stated, “A heads up would have been nice further in advance and maybe a reduced charge due to inconvenient parking.’’
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Research on commuter college students explains that “the act of commuting itself is a stressor, and names parking availability and time spent traveling as challenges for commuters” (Marinini Pinto et al., 2024). At Dean, having to park farther from our classrooms adds even more time to that daily process.
This may not seem like a huge problem to someone who does not commute, but for students who drive to Dean every day, it is something we experience every single day. We already have to account for traffic, weather, and our commute before we even arrive on campus. Having to walk from the opposite end of campus adds another challenge to the beginning of our school day.
An anonymous junior commuter at Dean said, “As a third year-student, I do not understand why commuter students are now required to park in the Jones lot. I have always followed the parking rules, including obtaining a permit and have never received a parking ticket, not even outside of Dean. I believe students who follow the rules should be allowed to park in the usual commuter lots.” I think Dean should reconsider how commuter parking is organized and listen to the students who are directly affected by these changes. Commuters deserve parking that is accessible and reasonably located in relation to where they attend their classes.
Another concern is how the longer walk affects commuters during New England weather. In the winter, snow and ice can make sidewalks and walkways slippery, creating a greater risk of falling while walking from the Jones Lot to classes. Rain can also make the walk difficult, especially when students are carrying backpacks, laptops, or other school materials.
When commuters were able to park closer to Dean Hall, the walk to class was shorter and more manageable. With the new parking arrangement, students have to spend more time outside and travel farther across campus in weather conditions that can be unpredictable. Another anonymous junior also said, “I understand there may not be enough parking for every commuter student, but the walk form Jones Lot can be difficult, especially as the weather gets worse. Walking in the rain or snow, slipping on ice, and dealing with lots that may not be plowed can create challenges.” Safety should be an important part of the conversation when deciding where commuters are allowed to park.
On rainy or snowy days, commuters can arrive at class with wet shoes, coats, pants, or backpacks after walking from the Jones lot to the other side of campus. Unlike residential students, commuters cannot simply walk back to their dorm room to change into dry clothes. If we have several classes throughout the day, we may have to stay in those wet clothes for hours. This can be uncomfortable and distracting and can make an already difficult commute even more frustrating.
The American Psychological Association explains that difficult or lengthy commutes can contribute to “stress, fatigue, irritability, and reduced concentration.” These effects are especially relevant when students arrive at class wet, cold, or uncomfortable.
The longer distance between commuter parking and our classrooms may seem small on paper, but during cold, rainy, or snowy weather, it can have a much bigger impact on the commuter experience here at Dean. Dean College has an opportunity to make the campus more commuter friendly.
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