Student Senate Adopts Opinion on Disability Accessibility on Campus
The 2019-20 Student Senate Executive Board (Photo by Allyson Frantz ’23/The Gettysburgian)
By Kyle Beatty, Staff Writer
Senate this week featured discussion of bias at Gettysburg, sustainability on campus, and the College’s perennial lack of accessibility for students with disabilities. The meeting opened with the approval of the last session’s minutes and attendance; the Black Student Union was unable to send a representative to the night’s Senate meeting, and so was unable to present their planned budget request.
Senate Treasurer Giacomo Coppola ‘22 gave the budget breakdown: $49,707 spent and $23,902 allotted. According to Coppola, “the disparity here is still present—after spring break, we’ll have a better idea of how much money we’ve allotted that just hasn’t been spent.” Director of Student Activities and Greek Life Jon Allen then reminded Senate of the National Survey of Student Engagement, asking students “please, if you get that email, be sure to fill it out.”
Director of Student Rights and Responsibilities Ron Wiafe presented information about the third annual Stop Bias at the Burg week, taking place the week of Mar. 16 through 20, just after spring break. According to Wiafe, “What we hope with Stop Bias at the Burg week is that we have proactive conversations about our differences,” contrasted with the “reactive approach” that the College takes in responding to specific incidents. Wiafe invited all students to attend the week’s programs including book discussions and presentations.
Alexandros Economou-Garcia ‘22 and Nadine Snyder ‘21 spoke on behalf of the Sustainability Committee. Economou-Garcia and Snyder shared information about recycling plastics in general and Gettysburg’s sustainability projects in particular, including the Bullet Hole’s transition to reusable cups and utensils.
Senate then discussed a proposed opinion on Gettysburg’s accessibility on campus to disabled students. Senator Colin Hughes ‘23 introduced the proposal, noting “this was an issue that I have noticed since I got here a few months ago.” The proposal urges the College to repair all broken disabled access doors on campus and to install new ones in buildings essential for a student’s education at Gettysburg. Discussion of the opinion followed.
Senator Ziv Carmi ‘23 asked about buildings on campus that do not have disabled access, wondering how this is legal under the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Vice President Jack Lashendock ‘20 clarified that some older buildings had been grandfathered in at the time the bill was passed. Asked if any of the residence halls were ADA-accessible, Hughes responded that the Office of Multicultural Engagement is the only residential building with a button-activated door. The opinion was put to a vote, and was adopted without opposition or abstentions.
Student Concerns included reports of SpeedQueen, the app students must use to pay for laundry, double-charging users. When approached by students about the issue, the College has referred them to the makers of the app, who have in turn referred students to the school. Students also reported recent allergic reactions in Servo and the Bullet Hole caused by cross-contamination. Vice President Lashendock warned of a skunk that recently “moved into the neighborhood” near the Sigma Chi house on Carlisle Street. In more positive news, LatinX house has regained access to hot water.
The meeting closed with Club Reports. Tristan Chen ‘20 announced that Talk, Listen, Change now has a website, talklistenchange.net, to help students realize the importance of voting. The meeting was then adjourned, having lasted a little under an hour.
