Starting on the first of May, a new parking system will be enforced for all student drivers who use campus parking. This winter’s snowfall has highlighted Friend’s lack of parking, as much of the street parking has become inaccessible due to the frosty conditions. The spring also brings a new influx of sophomore students who can drive, only furthering the problem.
Upperclassmen have experienced issues with parking when returning from off-campus free periods or arriving late to school. Anna Friel ‘26 says, “Sometimes I go off campus to get lunch, and when I return, I have to circle the parking lot for a spot. When there isn’t one, I have to find appropriate parking on the street, which can result in being late for class.” The parking shortage shouldn’t be a barrier to students’ learning, so change is necessary.
This new system will be referred to as the “Odd and Even” system, which relies on the last digit of one’s license being odd or even. Each group will be scheduled on different days, where they can park in the on-campus spaces. The school’s administration has reviewed and confirmed that the number of vehicles with odd and even license plate numbers is relatively equal, allowing this system to function effectively. Students will have to resort to ride-share or being dropped off when it is not their group’s day. Friel ‘26 says, “I pass a lot of my friends’ houses on my way to school, so I could easily give them a ride some days!”
If a student’s car is found parked at school on a day that’s not theirs, a warning will be issued. If the offense is recurring, the student will be sent to SDC (Student Disciplinary Committee) for further action, such as suspension. Students must comply with this new system as it is necessary for the school to run smoothly and to continue prioritizing academics.
All staff will be excluded from this system, and to limit confusion, specific parking spots will be allotted for faculty only. Staff parking will be found near the Jones house, in addition to the first row of parking in front of the “Arches” entrance. All parking spaces for faculty will be marked clearly, with Mr. Neiswender noting that, “Faculty spaces will be marked with eye-catching spray paint to hopefully avoid possible confusion.”
The “Odd and Even” system aims to help new drivers slowly integrate into the chaos of a parking lot full of young drivers. “I think
this system will create a less overwhelming environment for me, since it will eliminate a lot of the surrounding traffic and therefore some of the stress,” says Kate Coletti ‘28. With cars pulling in and out of spaces and drivers rushing or not fully awake, parking lots can be hectic for new drivers who are still learning the ropes.
Mr. Neiswender hopes the “Odd and Even” system can address the increase in late arrivals to class. “Upper School attendance has noted that many students have attributed their tardiness to problems with parking, which is taking away from our students’ learning,” Mr. Neiswender says. Jack Brynes ‘27 has had personal experience with this issue. “I arrived at school at around 7:50 am, but was unable to find an open spot. I had to find an open spot on the street, which took longer than anticipated, thus making my brothers and me late to class,” Byrnes ‘27 says.
In the coming weeks, a Google Sheet will be sent out, listing the names of those in each group. On April 15th, the schedule will be released via email. The schedule will be based on days of the week rather than the school’s typical 7-day rotating schedule to ensure a more equal split of days across groups. Additionally, by April 15th, students need to report their license plate numbers to the school. Otherwise, they cannot park on campus for the remainder of the 2025-26 school year!
The “Odd and Even” system will hopefully allow all students to find parking spaces with ease at all times of the day, without taking
away from their school day and impeding on their ability to learn. By starting on May 1st, we will have a month to test the system and make the necessary changes to have it fully ready and working for the 2026-27 school year!
