features
Thursday, Jan. 26, 1984/KcLLeidoscope/3
Disabled students have
access to more campus
By Gary Skldnore
William Darity gets
around the UNCA caitpus
a lot better than he
used to! Although he
has gone frcm crutches
to wheelchair, and the
campus is situated on a
hill, accessibilty to
classrocras has improved
remarkably since he
began part-time atten
dance in 1976.
Darity, a paraplegic
for 18 years, broke his
back in a car accident
just after he graduated
from high school. Af
ter an 18 month stay in
the hospital, and years
of rehabilitation and
working small jobs off
ered to the handi
capped, Darity decided
to go to college
and major in account
ing. He doesn't have a
learning disability,
only a mobility
problem.
" As a whole I feel
really good about what
the school has done for
the handicapped. Since
the school is on a
hill, it could be a lot
worse than it is.
Several years ago, they
did't have anything to
help the handicapped at
all.
Today, the steps
leading down to the
student center have
handrails and for some
one on crutches it
really makes all the
difference in the
world. This campus in
many ways is ■ a lot
easier to get around
than it is in town.
There, I can’t even go
to the movies without
help getting over the
little curbs in front
of the theaters."
The university has
done a lot more than
put in handrails for
its students. The
campus has already
widened sidewalks,
installed ramps leading
into many of the build
ings and restroom
facilities have been
remodelled so they will
accomodate someone in a
wheelchair.
Darity says he is
thankful that most of
the buildings on campus
new have elevators
installed. ” It takes a
special key to get into
the elevators, which is
issued when you enroll
at the school.
Plans are already
drawn up to install
elevators in the re
maining three buildings
on caitpus lacking them.
Funds are currently
short however.
According to Keith
Ray, Director of
Student Development,
funds for elevators
isn't the only problem.
"The imain thing I '-ve
been working on is a
physical fitness pro
gram for the disabled.
Getting more equipment
and a professional
staff takes funds and
we're currently working
on that problem."
Ray feels that stu
dents that are not
physically active have
a harder time getting
around . Darity also
agrees that a physical
fitness program is
important. "There was
one about a year and a
half ago. It was good
and helped keep me in
shape."
Although Darity has
praise for the campus,
he also feels thereare
still ways to improve
the campus for the dis
abled.
"Making better park
ing spaces more con
venient is something
the school could do at
very little cost. The
spaces just aren’t in
the right spots as far
as I'm concerned. I
would like to see them
closer to the build
ings. "
'V
A ■- -439
..
r
Free wheeling: William Darity, through the
efforts of the campus^ new has the opportunity to
attend more classes than ever before, although
there is still room for improvement.
Photo hy Gary Skittaore
Campus escapes flu epidemic with two cases
By Gary Skidnore
Flu may be reaching
epidermic prcportiois in
Buncombe County, but
students and faculty at
UNCA are basically
healthy and free of the
encroaching illness.
Although many stu
dents are going to the
campus infirmary with
symptoms of the flu,
there have only been
two known cases re
ported by the clinic.
According to Linda
Roper, a staff nurse at
the infirmary," most of
the students that are
coming in have got
upper respiratory track
problems, along with
headaches, stuffy noses
and watery eyes. Most
of these people do not
have the flu, only
colds."
When asked why the
city schools are being
so effected with the
virus and not the
university students,
Roper responded, "at
city schools, such as
the elementary, middle
and high schools.
students have a closer
contact with one
another, Here at the
university, many
students cemmute to
school and have the
opportunity to get out
into the fresh air
between classes,"
sexmething Roper highly
recommends. Another
possible reason Roper
feels the younger
students are more
effected by the virus
is their lack of good
hand washing practices.
"Older persons tend to
be more aware of the
need to wash their
hands more often,
"states Roper.
Roper said a few of
the UNCA faculty and
staff members have
called the infirmary
with complaints of
nausea and vcmitting.
Roper suspects that
these people have
contracted the flu
virus. She attributes
this to the fact that
members of the faculty
and staff tend to be a
little older. The
probability of them
having school age
children, who also have
the flu, is much
greater, and they catch
the virus from them.
As far as what
medicines a person
should take for symtoms
related to the virus,
Roper recommends bed
rest and the intake of
fluids. However, if the
symptoms persist past
three to five days,
patients should consult
a physican or call the
university infirmary at
258-6520.