Acorn

Issue date: 2/1/08 Section: Opinion

Media Credit: suppliescentral.net

I'm writing with some consternation about a big issue on Drew University's campus:handicap accessibility. I am currently on crutches and am having a hard time getting around.

There are only elevators in a few buildings, including the one I am most often in, Seminary Hall.

Seminary Hall is one of the more accessible buildings. with just a few problems. There is a lack of access buttons to get into the buildings and bathrooms and some mild classroom set-up issues with getting a wheelchair inside of them.

In the University Center, if I were in a wheelchair instead of on crutches, I would have to go the whole way around to the back to get my mail and get to the bookstore…and even that is with help.

There are no handicap access buttons ANYWHERE on campus! If I were an undergrad and wanted to see my professors in their offices, I couldn't, because I wouldn't be able to get in the building, let alone up to the offices due to the lack of elevators-Embury is an example of this. As mentioned before in The Acorn, some elevators are even scary to be in, like the one at the Commons.

Even Health Services, with its position on the top of a hill has a lack of a welcoming, accessible ramp.

In general, there are few ramps to get into buildings, unless they're hiding somewhere and even then, they should be marked. There is also a problem with the housing.

Most of them have stairs and so are impossible to get into for someone in a wheelchair. This is especially true for Grad and Theo housing.

There is also no way in from the far-off places like Loantaka and Green Villa-can you imagine having to roll through the woods to get to class? There should be transportation for handicap people who cannot drive.

Now, I know that the buildings are old, but that is no excuse. If you look at Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania, their oldest buildings, Old Main and North Hall, have elevators-and these buildings are over 100 years old.

Slippery Rock may have a giant hill and its own problems with handicap accessibility, but it is still much more accessible than Drew.

I would take a giant hill and being able to get into buildings over a more flat area and not being able to get anywhere.

Drew claims to want diversity-the more diverse the better. How can we be diverse if we basically prevent a whole group of people from coming to campus?

I have a challenge for the administration: Go around campus and pretend you cannot go up or down stairs or have the mobility to open doors. See how well you would be able to get in and out of buildings on your own.

Try to run a push scooter or go on crutches through the Green Villa woods.

See if you can fit a wheelchair through doors and be able to sit in classrooms.

Then see how handicap accessible Drew is.

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