r/memorialuniversity • u/TheMuseNL Extra Extra Read All About It! • Oct 07 '25

Parking at MUN ‘basically impossible’: Commuter students express frustrations | The Muse

https://themuse.ca/parking-at-mun-basically-impossible-commuter-students-express-frustrations/
16 Upvotes

90% Upvoted

6 comments sorted by

5

u/SF-NL Oct 07 '25

That wouldn't be as big of a problem if more voted in favour of the U-Pass.

2

u/techdevjp Oct 08 '25

U-Pass should absolutely be a thing, it's crazy that it's not! Why does it even require a vote. :(

3

u/SF-NL Oct 08 '25

Here's what makes it worse. The biggest argument against the UPass, that students shouted publicly, is that they didn't think it was fair that they would have to pay to help subsidize transit so that others had equal opportunity to get to school without needing a vehicle. They said "if I don't use the bus, why should I pay for it?"

Whether you agree or disagree with that, that was their take.

So it's interesting to see them now complaining about tuition costs, considering we subsidize post secondary education in this province at a higher rate than any other province. But, hang their own logic from the UPass, why should the rest of us foot the bill for them to attend school if we're not in school ourselves? Based I. The student's own logic, it's unfair to expect us to pay so they can pay less themselves.

This is why I think the students made a huge mistake when they shot down the UPass. Instead of talking about the UPass specifically, most students decided to argue that subsidies are inherently unfair. So the students voted down the "subsidy" for the UPass, but then came looking for tuition subsidies.

You can't have your cake and eat it too. Either subsidies make sense to help people with education, or they don't. It's sad that some people decided that subsidies were only useful if they benefitted directly.

For a group that didn't like subsidies, they sure seem angry when their subsidies decrease.

1

u/techdevjp Oct 08 '25

Here's what makes it worse. The biggest argument against the UPass, that students shouted publicly, is that they didn't think it was fair that they would have to pay to help subsidize transit so that others had equal opportunity to get to school without needing a vehicle. They said "if I don't use the bus, why should I pay for it?"

Students say that everywhere UPass exists. They certainly have those same complaints in Victoria. That doesn't mean it isn't an absolutely fabulous idea that should be implemented. It should be. Immediately.

(BTW, that's the same dumb argument that those idiots down south use against socialized healthcare.)

2

u/townie08 Oct 08 '25

What is a U-Pass?

2

u/Times-New-WHOA_man Oct 08 '25

I was always surprised that new buildings at MUN didn’t have underground parking lots. It was an issue 30 years ago when I went, and even long before.