An accessibility sign located in Shay Hall
Photo Courtesy of Katie Kuzniar
BY: CASSIDEY KAVATHAS, ADVISORY EDITOR
Jessica Schleede, a senior inclusive childhood education major, became more aware of accessibility problems on campus after she became a student ambassador for St. Bonaventure University. As an ambassador, Schleede serves as a tour guide. On one of her tours, the prospective student’s family member was wheelchair bound. The tour wasn’t complete because parts of campus weren’t accessible or were too challenging to accommodate.
“I just feel like it’s a deterrent to new students,” Schleede said. “They would apologize or offer to skip a building because there was limited time on the tour.”
Bonaventure’s campus is full of older buildings, many built before the Americans with Disabilities Act, which has caused some problems for students, family, faculty and staff with physical disabilities. With The Bolder Bonaventure campaign, many buildings such as Plassmann Hall, the Reilly Center and the John J. Murphy Professional Building are being renovated.
“Accessibility is always a high priority in all campus planning,” Jared Smith, the facilities director, said. “Any time a project is being discussed on campus the university looks for ways to improve accessibility.”
In the past four years, Bonaventure addressed accessibility issues by installing and rebuilding four elevators and installing three wheelchair ramps. The Reilly Center’s elevator will be completely redone this year but has been down this semester due to waiting for parts.
When it comes to buildings that have the most accessibility problems, it depends on who you ask, said Smith.
For Schleede, the Friedsam Memorial Library is the most challenging to get into accessibility-wise.
“You have to go into the building first to have someone go over to the side door so that the person with an accessibility issue can access the chair lift,” Schleede said. “The last time I gave a tour it was not functioning.”
Other buildings mentioned by students are William F. Walsh Science Center, De La Roche Hall and The Reilly Center.
“You’d have to walk all the way around the building like in Walsh to get to De La Roche because it’s not really accessible,” said Kishan Patel, a junior biology major and member of the diversity committee. “What can we put on campus for each of these buildings that would make it more accessible for someone not to have to go all the way around the building on a rainy or icy day?”
Schleede hopes that accessibility improves as she wants everyone she gives tours to experience why she loves Bonaventure.
kavathcj20@bonaventure.edu
