AJ Long is a multimedia journalist for Samford News Network.
At Dwight Beeson Hall (DBH), a main elevator has been out of service for much of the fall semester. Taped to the door of the elevator is a sign with contact information for the Office of Accessibility and Accommodations, which it itself located on DBH’s second floor.
Elevator services on campus have sparked discussions about accessibility at Samford. Jeff Poleshek, the university’s Assistant Vice President for Operations, Planning, and Construction, says that the situation with DBH’s elevator is frustrating, but they remain hopeful.
A computer part for that older elevator got damaged, and they just don’t have another one. So we’re a little bit at the mercy of our elevator contractor, which is frustrating. But I am hopeful… I don’t really have a crystal ball or a wand, but I am hopeful that within the timeframe of this fall semester that thing gets up and running again.
Jeff Poleshek
The university is making attempts to maintain the older buildings on campus while constructing new ones. The current overhaul of Seibert Gym is just one part of the sweeping changes coming to campus over the next few years.
Poleshek said that the university is keeping accessibility concerns in mind now that they have a chance to start new with fresh construction.
The new Seibert obviously there’s an addition that’s going up right now. Brand new everything, walls, floors, ceilings, structure. We’ve got access to that building at different grades, and so there will be of course elevators in there. But at the same time you’ll be able to get to the building from a couple of spots coming off of parking lots. So instead of having to go down stairs, you’ll basically come off of a ramp and you’re right in.
Jeff Poleshek
The housing survey recently sent out to the student body detailed plans for housing that may start being developed after the construction at Seibert is finished. While residences at West Village have elevators accessible to students, many of the older dorms on campus, such as Smith and those in Beeson Woods, do not have elevators.
Access to elevators can be a problem for students who may rely on them for accessibility. When it comes to the older buildings on campus, however, dealing with elevators there may not always be easy, according to Poleshek.
I’d say there’s some structural gymnastics that has to happen, and we’ll have to evaluate, do we have enough accessible facilities to accommodate our student body, and if there are some that are not, can we work to balance that out?
Jeff Poleshek
While accessibility remains a significant concern on campus, there is also hope that the new developments on campus can provide an opportunity to evaluate and elevate the issue to the forefront.
