As of last semester, a few elevators around campus have been inoperable due to repairs. Students and faculty have had many issues with the accessibility around campus before and during this issue with the elevators.
Students who park their vehicles at the campus parking garage next to the Public Safety building have been having a difficult time transitioning to taking the stairs regularly as opposed to the convenience the elevator once provided.
Emma Gaul, a junior nursing student, is one of the students who have had difficulty with both elevators being down in the parking garage as well as the first floor elevator located at the Cohen Science Center.
Gaul has stated that she leaves early in the morning to drive to campus.
“I leave at five in the morning and at seven I’m working in the hospital,” she said. “It’s all an inconvenience.”
Gaul added to the concern that has been an issue around campus for a while, that being accessibility for certain buildings around campus.
“It’s like if you can’t take the stairs, what are you supposed to do?”
Despite the elevator in Cohen currently not operating, the historic Kirby Hall does not have an elevator and is only accessible via stairs. Accessibility has been a prevalent issue but there are plans to make going to class a little easier.
Dr. Mischelle Anthony, an associate English professor who teaches at Kirby Hall, has acknowledged that the building must improve accessibility.
“I know that a lift to the back porch (Greenway side of the building) is supposedly coming at some point to Kirby,” Anthony said. “That way people can easily access the first floor rooms.”
Anthony added that accommodations professors in Kirby make are to move classroom activity to accessible buildings and rooms.
According to a statement from the Executive Director of Facilities Charles Cary privded by the Executive Director of Office of Academic Success Learning Center Katy Betnar, facilities have put the elevators on high priority.
“Regular maintenance of all elevators in university buildings is conducted to minimize the chance of failure,” Cary said in a statement. “However, from time to time, elevators do go out of service and the facilities department puts a high priority on these issues as they can directly affect access to classrooms and offices. Some repairs can be handled by Wilkes employees, but many require assistance from an outside contractor.”
The replacement electric board for the Cohen elevator that failed will not be delivered until March despite the order being expedited.
As for the parking garage elevators, Cary did not provide an update about the process.
Anyone who may need accommodations while the elevators are down can reach out to Betnar at (570) 408-4233.