A protest was held at Stony Brook University in response to the school's paid parking increase.

The administration at Stony Brook plans to implement a paid parking model following years of offering free parking for students.

Protesters say they are being asked to pay up to $600 a year to cover parking expenses for which the school is in a deficit.

Faculty, staff and students would be charged a parking free chosen from a set of payment tiers.

The school says the model would eliminate its deficits, including repairs, maintenance, capital expenses and outdated technology.

"A lot of people don't have disposable income that are students here and so paying upwards of $50 a month could hurt a lot of students financially," says Amanda Basinger, a student at Stony Brook University.

Stony Brook's proposed parking model would begin in fall 2023.