Dear Editor:

I was reading the story in last week's issue about the SGA contributing to putting in an automatic door at Tolliver.Ê

I'm a C-6 quadriplegic. To clarify, I'm in a wheelchair. I can use my arms, but I don't have finger movement.ÊThe reason I'm explaining this is because I have been going in and out of Bogard Hall since 2001.Ê

A lot of people don't even know where the handicapped entrance is on Bogard.Ê

That's because the only handicapped entrance is on the east side near the southeast corner of the building.ÊThe outside doors are extremely heavy with only one handle that works by a thumb button latch.Ê

Because I can't use my fingers, I can't unlatch the door to open it.ÊEven if I could unlatch it, I doubt I would be able to open it.Ê

So if I am rushing to Bogard to class, I have to either wait for someone to walk up and go in when they do or wait for someone coming out.

Once you get past those doors, it leads into the stairwell and to a second door that leads to the first floorÊhallway.Ê

It's all I can do to open this door by myself, because it is very heavy and has a normal smooth round knob, but at least it stays unlatched almost all the time.Ê

I can get out of the building by myself because I can just push the doors open with my chair, but there is no way I can get in the building by myself.Ê

I've complained to Student Disability a few times about the doors over the past years, but so far nothing has changed.Ê

I was told at one point to write a formal letter as a complaint and something would be done, but I never did.

So I read the article and thought writing this might be a faster way of getting something done.

I'm not trying to say that Tolliver doesn't need an automatic door.

What I'm saying is that if someone can influence an automatic door being installed in Tolliver, maybe something could be done with Bogard.Ê

I'm not talking about an automatic door or anything fancy and expensive, I would be satisfied with lighter doors that stay unlatched like those on Tolliver.Ê

I know I'm not the only disabledÊstudent who would appreciateÊthis change.

I could name off some other pet peeves of mine around campus like having to go all the way around the back side of Carson Taylor Hall to climb the steep ramp to get in the only handicapped entrance, the ungodly steep ramp at Wyly or not being able to get to professors' offices in the Engineering Annex and Robinson Hall, but I won't bother you with those.Ê

If someone could just do something about the only handicapped entrance to Bogard, I would be content.

Ê

Thanks for reading my rant,

Ê

Chris Reneau

Senior

Civil EngineeringÊ