Problems with accessibility at Cornell
by Ariel Glasman, Columnist
I wish there were a concrete rule somewhere that explicitly outlined when it is appropriate to use an elevator. As a sociology and education double major, most of my life at Cornell is spent at College Hall - by a further twist of fate, I am almost always on the third floor. That leaves a pressing question: Do I, a young, relatively in shape, girl of nineteen take the elevator? If it has been raining, I give myself permission, but if there are lots of people milling around, I take the stairs. Sometimes, I press the button and walk away for a couple of seconds and come back with a surprised look on my face, like, "My goodness! The elevator has mysteriously arrived. Might as well hop in!" My worst moment was taking the elevator up with a very wise, albeit very aged, professor - the sort of person who deserves a ride up or down every now and then. As we rode the elevator up in silence, I found myself thinking the entire time, "He thinks I'm lazy, he thinks I'm lazy, he's judging me and thinking that I am lazy." Right before the doors opened, I blurted out a big, fat lie: "I was glad to take the elevator this morning after twisting my ankle!" I doubt he believed me.
I unveiled this insanely neurotic side of my personality because I wanted to use it to segue into an actual issue: the accommodations made for physical disabilities on this campus. This was not something I had given any thought to until I broke my foot last May and spent the remainder of the school year stuck between doors, looking vainly for elevators and generally having to struggle with every little thing. Even showering was a pain. The brilliant architects of Pauley Hall thought it would be an excellent idea to install a curb between our shower stations and changing areas, and I spent many exciting mornings trying to maneuver my naked self over that curb, while still using crutches. Too much information? Maybe, but for individuals who struggle every day with physical limitations - whether that's a broken limb or blindness - it is information their able-bodied counterparts don't often consider.
The writers of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 did have these considerations in mind when they tackled the problem of secondary education and physical limitations. According to the college's website, "[Cornell College] is committed to providing equal access to all of its programs and facilities. In the event that access to an existing facility is limited, alternative arrangements can be made. Similarly, if access is not available to an off-campus college activity, whether academic or co-curricular, a reasonable accommodation can be made to provide the same or a similar benefit." This is indeed true. The college will schedule classes in accessible buildings on ground floor levels for those who have difficulty with stairs. To arrive there, Cornell enlists the help of Gators - they were a huge relief when I had crutches and getting from Pauley to Law Hall to lunch was a pain, especially in the spring rain. Furthermore, the college is open to renovations. As the remodeling process continues, accessibility will be provided, especially in the Commons and hopefully some of the older residence halls, where there are no elevators. Over the years, curbs have been eliminated and ramps have been put in place all over campus, but there are some issues remaining.
Take, for example, Cole Library. There are two sets of doors on the third and first floors. The first set of doors will open with a push of the button, but the second set of doors has no such mechanism, a problem the library staff has tried to alleviate by propping this second door. Law Hall has this same issue, with an added frustrating factor: The floor is smooth and slippery. One of my grandest moments last year was getting stuck in the door late at night - I was there to write a paper - and, once I had freed myself (those wooden doors are about fifty tons), I almost broke my other foot when my crutches slipped out from beneath me. The subsequent face plant and loud cursing caused much merriment from other students writing their own papers in the computer lab, but I was a bit miffed. Another issue is one of time: When, exactly, will the Commons renovations be completed, and when they are, hopefully all of the doors in the new building will open with the push of a button so people on crutches don't have to struggle, or hope that the door will be opened for them.
Iowa winters, slippery floors and steep hills are challenges that Cornell must face in order to accomodate physical needs. I don't think Cornell earns a total "fail" in this area, but I do hope they continue to make improvements before too much time passes. As the campus is right now, prospective students who use wheelchairs, canes, crutches, etc. are practically barred from attending this college, especially in the winter time. This is simply unallowable by ADA standards. Keep in mind, though, that while the college is working on renovations, Cornell faculty and students can always try to be considerate to people who are obviously having a hard time. My friends were kind enough to fetch my food from Sodexo so I didn't have to battle the crowds, and I could always count on them to hold the door for me, but there were a couple of times when I would hobble up to a door that had just been opened, only to have it swing shut in my face. I wish Cornell would install those handy door openers everywhere, but until then, be courteous, help your friends out and try not to fall in a hole and break your foot.
Volume: 129
Issue: 8
Section: Opinions
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