“Be Known” Begins With Accessibility

Reported By: Shelby McCormick

Illustrated By: Sydney Simmons

According to the CDC, one in seven Americans suffers from a disability that affects mobility. That is one in seven Americans that could be driven away from George Fox University (GFU) because of accessibility issues with some campus buildings.

           While newer buildings such as Stevens Center and the Hoover Academic Building do have elevators that make them accessible for students, this is not the case for all departments. The English department is currently housed inside Minthorn Hall. With many stairs–and no ramps or elevators–Minthorn Hall is all but inaccessible to people using wheelchairs. 

        While Minthorn Hall has historical value and should be preserved, its continued use for classes and offices limits the students that can partake in the activities there. The English, Spanish, and Study Abroad offices should be housed in a place that is accessible for all.

        A prospective English major or even an employee in a wheelchair would likely be disheartened by the fact that there would be no way for them to access the professor offices housed on the third floor of Minthorn Hall, or take one of the classes in Minthorn 200.  

        The same tune could be sung for older dorms such as Macy and Hobson Halls. While there are more accessible dorms available for students, accessibility should be universal across all living spaces. If a student with a mobility disability wanted to visit their friend who lives on the second story of Hobson Hall, they would have no elevator to do so.

  While these issues may not cross the mind of most, they are a constant reality for the one in seven Americans experiencing a disability affecting mobility. By not having a universally and entirely accessible campus for all levels of mobility, we as a university are significantly limiting and excluding those who can be part of our community.

        If money is to be spent on campus construction, it should be spent on filling needs that are not currently being met; one such need is that of better accessibility options in the buildings around campus. This can be achieved through renovations to the current buildings where possible or new construction where renovation is not feasible. 

If GFU wants to be a place that truly emulates Christ, a place where everyone can, with full certainty, say they have felt the “Be Known” promise, that begins with a tangible and visible display of love by making sure that there are no spaces on campus that anyone can be barred from entering because of a disability.