Not Done Yet:

Being compliant with ADA regulations is important in any kind of business or institution, but it is especially critical in colleges and universities. 
Photo courtesy of compliancedesign.com

Although several new adjustments have been made to the Campus Beautiful in order to create a more pleasant and suitable environment, such as gender neutral bathrooms, the upcoming renovations of both North and South Towers, and extended visitation hours for those living in dorms, many students and faculty members feel that Concord has failed to fully recognize those with handicaps.

While Concord has taken baby steps to ensure that all students are given the same opportunities, no matter the situation, several areas on campus would benefit from updates to be more accessible for those with handicaps. From the apparent inaccessibility of Woodell Hall to the multitude of broken handicapped door openers, the Campus Beautiful is not looking so beautiful to everyone.

After exploring the campus and speaking with several students and faculty members about the existing issues, the outrage seems to be more apparent now than ever – beginning with the bathrooms. While the gender-neutral bathrooms are an appreciable addition to the well-rounded campus, the bathrooms can be embarrassing and frustrating for those using wheelchairs or crutches.

The Fine Arts Building is the perfect example; not all of these bathrooms are easily accessible. Professor Lindsey Akers, Instructor of Communication Arts, is heated about the topic. After suffering a severe anterior cruciate ligament, or ACL, tear in one of her knees and being confined to a wheelchair for six months or longer, she frankly says, “The toilet paper is not close enough to the toilet. For someone using a wheelchair, getting up to reach the toilet paper is an extreme hassle.”

Another thing that has angered several students is the inaccessibility of Woodell Hall. Woodell Hall seems to be completely inaccessible; steps leading up and into every door prevent anyone using a wheelchair from entering without proper assistance. This would force anyone with a disability to live in South Tower, which is located significantly farther away from academic halls and the Student Center. Taking into account that the trek from the Towers to the rest of campus is only wheelchair accessible via treacherously steep ramps and sidewalks, this puts added stress on handicapped students trying to live on campus.

The library is another daunting task for anyone unable to climb stairs.  From the front, it’s completely inaccessible because there is no ramp. Those using a wheelchair must enter through the basement side door and take the elevator up to the first floor, which can take quite some time.

Imagine always going the long way to class, traveling halfway across campus to find an accessible bathroom, wheeling alongside the road because there is not a sidewalk and struggling to open a door while sitting down because the handicap door button will not work. Most of us do not have to face these struggles daily, but some of us do and it’s important to acknowledge everyone.

It’s not only Concord’s handicapped population that is voicing concerns about the accessibility of campus. Junior Kayla Harrison says “Fix the sidewalks and maybe make Wilson Hall more handicap accessible. Without a ramp or public access elevator, people are forced to live in Towers [if the first floor is at capacity] and they may not want to.”

College can be stressful enough with exams, homework, projects, and extracurricular activities. It’s unfortunate that Concord’s handicapped population has to endure the added stress of a difficult campus. Luckily, none of the aforementioned problems are unfixable. With the right effort and the right resources, the Campus Beautiful can become more beautiful for every Mountain Lion.