“EMU cannot claim to be an inclusive and welcoming space for everyone, if it is not willing to put in the time and effort for disabled students of all kinds,” said senior Milee White. As president of the Disabled Student Alliance, White is very aware of what it is like for students with disabilities to get around campus. “Physical accessibility has always been a priority of mine, as a blind person I can struggle getting around, as the world isn’t made for me.”
For people whose mobility is not a consistent issue, accessibility at EMU might not be at the top of their minds. That is why White and the DSA decided to brave the cold to host a Trip or Treat event this Halloween. The event was intended to educate students on what it is like getting around campus with mobility issues. “We have trick-or-treating stations around at some of the places around campus that pose challenges for mobility or just access in general,” says Kayden Beidler, a member of DSA. Beidler was posted on the stairs outside of the Campus Center, which many students use to get to class. Beidler pointed out the poor lighting and crumbling areas of the stairs, both things that could make them treacherous for anyone with vision or mobility problems. Beidler said the goal of the event was to bring attention to “places where our campus is not serving everyone.”
Lehman Auditorium is another example of this. Although it has two wheel chair lifts, both are either not in use or non-functional, making it difficult for those in a wheelchair to maneuver between floors. White says that this isn’t only an inconvenience, but a detriment to the success of students. Referring to her earlier comment about EMU, White says, “That sounds harsh, but it’s true. For people like me, accessibility can define the degree of our success in life.” White has been a strong advocate on campus for accessibility and hopes to do future events to raise awareness around campus.
Students who attended the event seemed to respond positively to DSA’s message. Junior Renae Benner thought the event was “a really great idea.” Benner admitted she doesn’t think about how EMU’s architecture could make it difficult for some students to get around, but that she hopes DSA’s requests to EMU are “heard and implemented.” Just this year, the stairs outside the library were painted with high-vis yellow paint to increase visibility and access. Although this is a win for DSA and the accessibility of EMU’s campus, Trip or Treat showed there is still much room for improvement.
