An alarming trend has caught my attention on and off campus recently: e-cigarettes and vaping.

I have observed many friends take on the habit over the years and my observations have led to a strong yet unprofessional opinion that vaping is addictive and damaging no matter how old or mature you think you are; recent evidence has proven that my unprofessional opinion may be right.

It is astonishing to me how the use of e-cigarettes and vaping has risen in popularity over the years. I understand that it was originally a way to help long term smokers transition into using a less adverse substance, so users would not develop serious conditions such as cancer.

What e-cigarettes were not supposed to do was rake in an entire new generation and introduce them to a dangerous habit that could lead to addiction and serious health issues. What seemed harmless, is now evolving into a massive epidemic across the country, according to the New York Times. 

Teenagers and young adults in several states are experiencing severe shortness of breath, vomiting, diarrhea, fever and fatigue, and according to health officials, these cases have been linked to vaping and e-cigarette use. 

E-cigarette and vaping companies need to be held responsible for how their products are being used. These products are causing a myriad of issues for various age groups. Vaping companies should be demonized for creating products that are harming and killing people.

According to NBC News, as of Sept. 10, there have been at least 478 confirmed cases of breathing related illnesses linked to vaping in 25 states, including California.

The death count has risen to six, and that number may continue to climb. Deaths have been reported in Illinois, Indiana, Oregon, Minnesota and California.

Most patients experience flu-like symptoms, but more severe cases have put individuals in the intensive care unit or on ventilators for weeks on end, the Times reported.

Experts and health officials are still investigating the specific cause of these widespread, similar cases, according to the Times. Health officials suggest that these illnesses may be related to inhaling leftover droplets of oil when the liquid cools down, which can result in breathing problems, lung inflammation and even death if done in excess.

Other experts such as Scott Gottlieb, a physician and former commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, reported to the Times that it could be new ingredients or products on the market by illegal manufacturers such as new flavors or a new way to emulsify THC.

In addition, users are now substituting their own ingredients and mixtures, making it more difficult for regulators and scientists to zero in on one specific product that may be responsible for these mysterious illnesses, according to the Times.

According to the Wall Street Journal, federal health officials are now warning the public to not buy e-cigarette or vaping products off the streets and to refrain from modifying any products they already own until the investigation is complete.

This information not only makes me sad, but frustrated with how accessible vaping products are. Since vaping has become a DIY recreational activity, it is now easier for users to buy illegal products. Users are also adding THC to vaping liquids. It’s so easy, a 15-year-old can do it! 

My cousin had not even graduated from high school when he started vaping. Now he’s 20 years old, complaining of breathing issues and constant soreness in his throat that prevents him from singing well. He had never even considered that it could be the vaping that was causing him so much trouble. Once he did the math, he started to organize a plan to quit — easier said than done.

Vaping products were never designed for this young age group, yet vaping companies appeal to young people so strongly with the fun, enticing flavors, the small, very easy-to-hide sizes (thanks, Juul) and the mature, grown-up vibe it gives off to young, immature teens and young adults.

Increasingly, vaping companies are having to answer for their products.

According to CBS News, the FDA said Juul Labs lied about their products being a safer alternative to smoking. Last week, Michigan became the first state to ban the sales of flavored e-cigarette products, and San Francisco recently followed suit, banning vaping products that have not been approved by the FDA, CBS reported. 

As of Sep. 11, Bloomberg reported that the Trump Administration is making plans to ban flavored vaping products from the market.

E-cigarette and vaping companies need to be held responsible for how their products are being distributed, legally and illegally. There has to be a way to regulate products and make it more difficult for minors to get their hands on it. 

Young adults however, should be responsible enough to know the consequences of their actions, and should strongly consider taking a second look at the possible damage they are doing to their bodies.

Almost every young adult that I know who engages in vaping or e-cigarette use tends to be very defensive about their behavior. They refuse to admit that their brain is developing an addiction to nicotine or THC. They refuse to consider that vaping has not been completely verified as a harmless activity. 

Is it really worth potentially harming your body just so you can relieve stress and anxiety for one small fraction of the day? Vaping is still a relatively new activity and even experts still don’t know all of its effects or how it could do damage in the long run. 

Walking into one of the club rooms on a recent afternoon in the Student Center, students are welcomed by bright colors and eye-catching prizes, like a Morphe brush kit and flamingo socks. Students share laughs and closely examine their bingo mats hoping to get five in a row. In the center of it all sits the lovely drag queen, Madam Sass C., gracefully cranking the wheel of the bingo cage.

The Center for Leadership and Development partnered with the American River College Pride Center to host a Drag Bingo event with Madam Sass C. on Sept. 3, during the Weeks of Welcome Extravaganza (WOW). 

According to Mario Alejandro Rodriguez, student personnel assistant, WOW was designed by the CLD to welcome new students to ARC. It was launched as a program pilot that ran for a total of three weeks. The Drag Bingo event happened during the third week. 

“I partnered with the Pride Center and said let’s collaborate, let’s do something fun and exciting, so we decided to bridge WOW with the Pride Center and do Drag Bingo,” Rodriguez said. “It’s a partnership with two different departments and offices to welcome our students.”

Rodriguez, a new staff member of the CLD, said he identifies with the LGBTQIA+ community himself and that it’s important for students to see that representation in leadership positions on campus.

“Sometimes you can just go to class and go home, and not know that there’s a resource. I think we’re improving, but visibility is always a thing with any marginalized community,” Rodriguez said. “When you’re new, you wouldn’t know this is available. That’s why we do events like this.”

The colorful event brought in roughly 30 students that attend ARC. Computer science major Sasha Zabegalin said the most important part of attending events like this is to connect with other members of the community and LGBTQIA+ allies.

“I’ve been going here for a year and I know the coordinators,” Zabegalin said. “I wanted to see who’s around ARC because there’s always new people. Then you know who you can be friends with, and who you feel safe with.”

Welding major Cayde Poley said he attended the event because his first experience with the Pride Center made him and his partner feel welcome.

“I like the resources that they offer,” Poley said. “I dropped in to take a look with my boyfriend, and he was able to get information there that he wasn’t able to get anywhere else. It’s a really nice place.”

Previous weeks of WOW included giveaways of free food, like popcorn, ice cream and pizza. The Pride Center and CLD also hosted a movie night. Rodriguez said that it’s important to host events like this in the beginning of the school year so LGBTQIA+ students can be informed about resources and programs available to them.

According to the ARC website, the Pride Center helps connect students with supportive programs, groups and organizations on campus, like the UNITE Community & Diversity Center, Gay Straight Alliance (GSA), Transcendence Group and Queer & Trans People of Color (QTPOC). 

The Pride Center also facilitates ally trainings on campus to help students gain a better understanding of gender and sexual identity development and the challenges LGBTQIA+ students may face on campus.

For more information about LGBTQIA+ resources on campus visit https://www.arc.losrios.edu/student-resources/student-support-services/equity-programs-and-pathways/pride-center, or visit the Pride Center on campus located in the Student Center HUB, and ask to speak with a student personnel assistant.

“Little Shop of Horrors” started as a film released in 1960, hit Broadway by 1982 and was developed into another film in 1986 with an all-star cast. It’s been running in theaters all over the world ever since. 

This show is a classic example of a dark comedy with elements of absurdity and at times, morbidity. This fall, the American River College Theatre Department decided to take on the classic, and they nailed it.

“Little Shop of Horrors” follows the life of floral shop employee Seymour, as he quietly pursues his coworker Audrey romantically. Seymore discovers a one of a kind plant that he affectionately names Audrey II, but soon finds out the plant feeds on human flesh. With a guilty conscience, Seymour chooses to keep Audrey II alive, not fully grasping the consequences of the sacrifices that will be made to do so. 

Stand out elements of this production include the vocal direction, costume and set design, and of course, the amazing manipulation of the puppet, Audrey II. This was a talented cast to say the very least, with strong leads, Ethan Mack and Kloe Walker, playing Seymour and Audrey.

The vocals were impressive and balanced well with the orchestra. Although the songs were difficult to perform with many overlapping voices, each vocalist was strong and harmonies blended nicely. 

The show carried strong comic relief throughout, despite the bizarre and morbid plot. The audience hooted and hollered, rolling back in their seats through the strange and absurd comedy layered throughout the show.

One actor to note is Jonathan Wertz, who played five different roles in the entirety of the musical, including the sado-masochistic dentist, Orin Scrivello. He brought different twists to each character, even changing up the accents and mannerisms. 

The costume design was superb, representing impoverished 1960’s downtown New York City. The costume choices reflected the lives of prostitutes, drug addicts and struggling salesmen on Skid Row. 

The set design was a crucial element to “Little Shop of Horrors,” and it strongly succeeded. The use of dull and neutral colors, old-school metal trash cans grouped together, and an abandoned apartment front gave the stage a dark alley-like feel, as if strolling through a bad area of town.

The shop itself blended nicely with the Skid Row setting, but there was an element of charm to the inside of the shop. As the plant continues to bring in more customers, the set design showed the progression of the financial success of the shop, with larger inventory of flowers and more expensive floral arrangements displayed.

Of course the plant, Audrey II, is the quintessential theatrical piece of this show that invites the audience deeper into this bizarre tale. The liveliness of the plant’s manipulation beckons audience members to expand their suspension of disbelief. The plant goes through four stages of growth, all entirely mobile and incredible to look at. Audrey II’s final size was extraordinary with vines growing haywire, leaves dangling out the bottom and a terrifying mouth big enough in diameter to fit at least five people.

The plant manipulation, operated by Fetalaiga Faga, was one of the stand-out performances of the entire production. The audience never sees Faga, since the puppet was so thoughtfully created to hide the manipulator. Faga manipulated Audrey II with near perfectly timed movements to Audrey II’s speaking and singing lines, done by Corey D. Winfield. Faga and Winfield made a fantastic team.

“Little Shop of Horrors,” although an unusual plotline, makes for a truly entertaining experience that will leave you laughing uncontrollably and thinking, “What did I just watch?” ARC Theatre never disappoints. This is one you don’t want to miss out on. 

ARC’s Little Shop of Horrors will have its last weekend of performances Oct. 25 through 27. Go see it!

On a recent afternoon in Davies Hall, Asha Wilkerson gazed thoughtfully at a handwritten poster in her office that read “Long Term Goals.” Poised, confident and certain, she reflected on what it means to enjoy a career that bridges her areas of expertise together.

“I always really enjoyed being able to give back to the community; it was important to me,” Wilkerson said.

Wilkerson is a legal assisting professor at American River College, coordinator of ARC’s free expungement clinics and an award-winning attorney. She has spent 10 years practicing law and six years teaching in legal assisting programs.

This year, the Wiley W. Manuel Bar Association named Wilkerson the 2019 Attorney of the Year. She was recognized for her service to the community by organizing and coordinating free community expungement workshops available to ARC students and residents of the Sacramento region looking to clear their names.

Wilkerson, originally from Portland, Oregon, moved to Santa Clara to attend college where she was introduced to the idea of practicing law.

It was at Santa Clara University that Wilkerson was selected to join a Pre-Law Undergraduate Scholars (PLUS) program. The program was designed for seniors looking to begin law school the following year and only had 24 spots available. Wilkerson got in and was the youngest in the program. 

She began studying for the Law School Admission Test (LSAT), and although still unconvinced of that career path, decided to apply for University of California, Hastings College of the Law in San Francisco. 

“I always say just apply and see what happens, because what is for you will come and what’s not will fall away,” she said.

Over the Thanksgiving break before entering her junior year, Wilkerson said she got a call informing her she was accepted for the following year in the fall.

Wilkerson flew through law school, studying abroad in Costa Rica, Cuba and the Netherlands, interning for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, and for the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia. Wilkerson had fulfilled her requirements within just two and a half years, and by the spring of 2009 she was walking across the graduation stage.

Wilkerson said she always had a strong interest in international human rights and centered her academic focus around that. 

In March of 2009 she began officially practicing law at a firm and later on became a legal services coordinator in the Bay Area, running a monthly legal clinic on different subjects in Oakland and the surrounding area.

In 2013, she started working as an adjunct professor at California State University, East Bay in Hayward, Calif., Merritt Community College in Oakland, and in 2016, American River College.

Wilkerson said when she got the job at ARC, it was not common for paralegal programs to host legal service clinics because paralegals always have to be supervised by an attorney. This inspired her to begin planning a series of free expungement clinics open to the community. After bringing her idea to her colleagues, she said she was encouraged to follow through. 

According to Wilkerson, expungement workshops or criminal record clearing clinics, can assist people who have been convicted of a crime, whether that is a felony or misdemeanor, in the process to become eligible to have that crime reduced or removed from their record. 

“It’s an administrative process which means it requires paperwork to be filled out to be filed with the court,” Wilkerson said. “All misdemeanors can be removed from someone’s record; that’s not up to someone’s discretion, that’s by law.”

According to Wilkerson, wobblers are crimes that can be punished as felonies or misdemeanors. A wobbler can be reduced to a misdemeanor, after they’ve served their sentence, paid restitution fines, and have had no further dealings with the court.

Wilkerson said criminal law professor Jessie Morris was teaching criminal law students how to complete expungement paperwork at the time. They decided they could get the clinics up and running at ARC in five weeks and make them available for not just ARC students, but anyone from the surrounding area. 

“It went well enough that we wanted to make it a regular part of the paralegal program here to serve our students, but also to serve the community, give our students some practical skills and to bring outside attorneys onto campus,” Wilkerson said.

According to Wilkerson, she had the support of her dean and other professors on campus. She also had hope that her efforts would be seen as a good thing for students on campus and not a scary thing.

“Any time something is new, people are really skeptical… the stereotype is that people who have been convicted of a crime are always going to be dangerous, so people don’t want that element around them,” Wilkerson said.

Dyanne Marte, the department chair of Fashion and a friend of Wilkerson, said having the expungement clinics on campus is a big deal for people, and what she’s doing is bringing visibility to the program and ARC as a campus.

“A lot of people have issues and they may have been guilty of something, and to be able to clear someone’s name and [help them] move on with [their lives] and making that information not easily available, that makes a huge difference,” Marte said. “She’s really serving the community.”

Wilkerson said some of those that participate are young and some are more seasoned, but they are all stuck in a place where they want to get a job or get into a professional program and they can’t because of their crime history.

Wilkerson also noted her program is serving people on a regular basis, with up to 65 people coming through on a single Saturday. The clinics only run once a month, but are raking in high numbers compared to other clinics in the surrounding area.

The other firms in the area that provide similar resources have income requirements, citizen requirements and are receiving federal dollars to run their programs. There are also restrictions on who they can help. ARC expungement clinics are free and income or citizenship status do not prevent people from receiving the service.

Keith Staten, a local Sacramento lawyer and colleague of Wilkerson’s said the biggest incentive to assisting people on a college campus is the cost effectiveness and access to resources such as internet connection, desks, printers and computers to serve large groups.

“This is exactly what the Wiley Manuel Bar Association and the community needs. We need a place. An educational institution is the prime place for that to occur,” Staten said. “Our turnout and what we’ve been doing over at the school has been tremendous compared to anything I’ve ever seen.”

According to Wilkerson, some of the other groups in the area only have five people come through a month.

“I was blown away. I had no idea we were making that big of a difference … the numbers show how big of a need [there] is in the community,” Wilkerson said.

Wilkerson said she has always naturally been a teacher and tries to be as thorough as possible with helping her students and her clients understand legal processes. Her main focus has been to teach her students a real world view of the law.

Marte, who has known Wilkerson for three years now, validates Wilkerson’s abilities to merge her two professions in a way that highlights her best attributes and benefits her students.

“She’s engaging, she’s a really good story teller; she has an ability to really connect with people easily and quickly,” Marte said. “She’s rethinking the curriculum and improving it in ways that are relevant and timely.”

Wilkerson said she encourages critical thinking and challenges her students to bring a global, social justice view to the material. Being a practitioner allows her to bring real world examples to the classroom, and helps her remain on top of new developments in the field to share with her students.

Wilkerson took a break from practicing law, but said she is now aiming to start her practice back up, but instead of doing one-on-one services, she’s offering classes for people who want to learn to start their own business and who want to read and write their own contracts. She’s using the skills she’s developed as an instructor to be able to put that into her law practice, which also allows her to offer services at a lower rate because it’s group coaching.

“It’s wonderful to think that I’m pushing the boundary on what paralegal education looks like, while also being able to give back, and meeting the needs of requirements of my students,” Wilkerson said. “I’m sort of bridging all of the worlds that I sit in.”

 

Lea Michele is best known for her role as Rachel Berry on the Emmy award winning hit musical comedy “Glee,” which debuted in 2009. The show placed a spotlight on Michele and launched her as an internationally known actress and singer. 

Fans would call her a power-house vocalist and accomplished Broadway performer. Now, she shows her talent in her first ever Christmas album “Christmas in the City,” released Oct. 25 through Sony Music Entertainment.It has been two-and-a-half years since her last release “Places,” and it was worth the wait. 

“Christmas in the City” is a wonderful, 11-track album with 10 holiday favorites and one unexpected original, co-written by Michele. Here, she is reunited with Alex and Andy Anders for this album, two producers who previously produced tracks for “Glee.”

The album follows the traditional Christmas sound, with jazz influence and a full orchestra band for some of the songs. Some of the softer ballads contain choral elements that provide emotional depth to the album. Michele is more of a polished, technical singer and this is absolutely where she shines, fully displaying her Broadway chops. 

Going the more traditional route was a smart move for Michele’s specific style. At first listen, the album sounds unoriginal and over-done, but a closer ear reveals this album is entirely unique to Michele’s specific voice and fits her personality perfectly; poised, sophisticated and polished. 

The album opens with a bang, the first released single, “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” is done in the style of the original Andy Williams version. Although the instrumentals are similar, Michele always adds her own personal vocal twist. The powerful opener lets listeners know what to expect.

The next single “Christmas in New York,” is the only original song for the album and was co-written by Michele and her team. Once again, the song carries the traditional, full orchestra sound, but with Michele’s voice, it’s magical. This song gives a nostalgic feeling even if you’ve never been to New York, with gold nugget references to a bustling New York during the holidays. 

“Santaland is ready to debut / When Macy’s is so packed you can’t get through,” and “Find me on Broadway or at the ballet / and I’m 5 years old again,” are memorable lines that make you want to curl up with some hot cocoa in front of a roaring fire, or plan a trip to New York for the holidays. Michele references Rockefeller Center, Radio City, Fifth Avenue and Central Park, all the quintessential topics of a wonderful walk through a white New York city.

Some of the quieter songs on the album are absolute gems and give listeners an unheard side of Michele’s voice. “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” is soft and effortless. “Silent Night” is almost angelic and choral background elements provide a haunting, yet uplifting picture of Christ’s birth.

The album features three duets. Michele is joined by “Spring Awakenings” and “Glee” costar Jonathan Groff in “I’ll Be Home for Christmas,” with a Hawaiian Christmas feel. Michele is joined by another past “Glee” costar and concert tour buddy Darren Criss on “White Christmas.” Lastly she is paired with another Broadway babe, Cynthia Erivo on “Angels We Have Heard on High.”

Without a doubt, “O Holy Night,” the closer, wraps up this album with a shiny, red Christmas bow. Michele said in a recent interview with Apple Music, the challenge for this specific song was making it bigger and better than the version she had done for “Glee” in previous years.

Michele wrote on a recent instagram story, “I definitely think we accomplished that.”

Michele absolutely nails this number and could easily be compared to a young Celine Dion, delivering a powerful vocal and taking the song to another level and really making it her own. 

Although Michele has said in the past it’s been difficult to fully separate herself from “Glee” and prove herself a successful singer and performer, this album completely contradicts that. She is proving herself to be one of the greats, following in the footsteps of her number one idol, Barbara Streisand. Throughout this album, Michele has proven herself remarkable, free from the shadow of “Glee.”

 

In the 1950’s, the fashion industry was purposeful and intentional. The clothing was well-made, expensive and well-taken care of. People cherished their clothing and its creation, and the goal was to make the clothing last as long as possible.

In recent years, a concept has developed called “fast fashion,” or the rapid mass production of cheap clothing. Although the amount of clothing in stores has significantly increased and given more in-store choices, the prices and quality have tanked. Retailers such as Forever 21, H&M and Cotton On are all examples of this tragedy.

The fashion industry is no longer sticking to the four seasons cycle, but has created 52 seasons, one for every week of the year. Although the prices are cheap, this comes with massive environmental costs.

Shoppers scour stores for the next “on-trend” thing, creating a consumer culture of instant gratification and never feeling satisfied, tossing “last season” garments aside like trash, only to clog landfills, waste resources and increase pollution levels.

Clothing should not be created just to become garbage. One person’s trash may be another’s treasure. When it comes to fashion there are three important things to consider: Steward what you already have, thrift and donate. These practices will allow you to feel better about saving money, what’s in your closet and creating a healthier environment.

The biggest consideration is to start buying second-hand instead of new. Buying second-hand or donating to thrift or consignment stores can really help the environment. The fashion industry is loaded with irresponsible practices. Although we can’t stop the production of clothing, making the switch to thrifting will allow you to stop contributing to the damage.

Thrifting and donating keeps toxic clothing from sitting in landfills for years on end. According to a 2019 University of California, Berkeley article, by Student Environmental Resource Center (SERC) author Leonela Leon, Americans alone throw out 10.5 million tons of clothing every year. The article also stated the fast fashion movement is causing consumers to buy four times as much clothing, yet spend 17% less than in the past, because cheap clothing starts to fall apart or go out of style quickly. Thrifting keeps landfills clear and decreases the worldwide textile demand.

Buying second-hand also means less pollution. Did you know there may be pesticides in the very clothing you are wearing right now? 

UC Berkeley researchers also found that about 90% of the cotton that is grown for textiles is genetically modified and reliant on pesticides. That means the clothing you’re wearing could be full of toxic chemicals, and if you throw your garment out, those chemicals would play a part in contaminating water supplies and soil. 

In addition, the production of synthetic fabrics used in most mass produced clothing releases nitrous oxide, a greenhouse gas that is 310 times stronger than carbon dioxide, into the environment, according to researchers.

If you start thrifting, you are also preventing large amounts of resources from being used and wasted. On average, one piece of clothing takes 1,800 gallons of water to make and emits greenhouse gases equivalent to driving for 80 miles in a car, according to UC Berkeley researchers. That is a ridiculous waste of water and energy that could be avoided by the simple act of thrifting.

I know there are definite downsides to thrifting — you could spend hours looking for a specific thing and never find it, you could be worried about the previous owners or the way the store has handled the clothing. Personally, I think thrift stores are doing their best to provide quality clothing, although used. In the end, the environmental benefits are worth it.

Thrift stores such as Crossroads Trading Co. and Freestyle Clothing Exchange, although slightly pricier, offer you more stylish, name-brand options that are almost as good as buying new. They also give you the option to sell or exchange your own used clothes.

I encourage you to hop on the thrifting bandwagon. I’ve been doing it for years, and I’ve came upon some amazing finds that will continue to stay in my closet. Who knows, you may catch the thrifting bug like me. Give it a try and the environment will thank you later.

 

The American River College faculty and administration recently added to the college’s vision and mission statement a commitment to social justice and equity. This new commitment was approved by the Los Rios Board of Trustees in 2017. 

“American River College places students first in providing an academically rich, inclusive environment that inspires critical thinking, learning and achievement, and responsible participation in the community,” the statement informed in part.  

Now, ARC has a responsibility to live up to that statement, which applies to all ARC students, including those with disabilities that limit their movement.

It’s hard to imagine what it would be like to go long distances across campus with a physical disability or limitation, especially when not every door, bathroom, elevator or pathway is easily accessible and safe to use.

In late October, SOARD, a club on campus for students with disabilities, reached out to the Current to inform them that ARC may not be maintaining accessibility points on campus. This is an issue that should raise concern, but little has been done to correct the issues.

In light of these concerns, in February 2018, SOARD organized teams of its members to check all safety and accessibility throughout ARC, namely automatic doors, walkways, restrooms and elevators in all departments on campus.

To raise attention to their findings, they wrote up an official report to have on record, which was acknowledged by ARC President Thomas Greene who had previously expressed interest in taking action but has yet to follow through. The report was also acknowledged by Parrish Geary, the dean of student services and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance officer Parrish Geary, who has been SOARDs closest ally in taking serious action to resolve issues within reason.

SOARD members discovered many areas on campus that disabled students should be able to access, but cannot because of doors that are too heavy, buttons that are absent, malfunctioning or not being maintained properly. Some of the biggest areas of conflict they came across were restroom inaccessibility and doorway width.

Of the 11 doors SOARD checked for automatic buttons, only four offered this service, according to SOARD’s Safety & Accessibility Feb. 27, 2018 report. This is an issue for students with physical disabilities who have to change their usual routes so they can access an automatic door to get to their classes.

Members of SOARD included in the report the bathrooms in the Technical Education and Horticulture Departments are very difficult to enter or maneuver through with wheelchair or walker assistance and did not offer automatic door service to enter.

SOARD club president Jason Lisic reported to the Current that two women from the Adaptive P.E. Department said their wheelchairs were too wide for the elevators and could not reach the buttons to operate the elevator. One of the women added the entrance was so narrow her chair has gotten stuck.

Large projects understandably take time to be approved and executed, but basic fixes still take weeks to be addressed. While ARC is legally up to ADA standards, and holds itself to standards beyond the baseline, maintenance and urgency seems to fall through the cracks. 

According to Cheryl Sears, director of administrative services, older buildings built before 1970,  such as Davies Hall, are only required to be up to code for the time it was built. Davies Hall was built in 1967 and, as such, is up to code for the requirements in place for 1967. Any other additions, such as automatic doors and elevators actually go beyond ADA regulations. 

In this case, going beyond is still not enough. Just because Davies Hall has extra modifications that exceed regulations from 1967, does not mean the building is entirely accessible for those with physical disabilities. ADA regulations should change according to the current year, and those modifications should be well-maintained. 

These fixes may be more long-term than expected, but they should not be ignored. It should not take year after year for these issues to gain recognition and become a priority. ARC has shown little urgency in finishing projects that had been started months ago. Disabled students should not have to wait for a building to be torn down and replaced before they can have access to it. 

It must not be easy as a student with a disability to circle around campus to get to an accessible restroom or to find a door that works or offers an automatic button. Students with disabilities are entitled to the same conveniences as non-disabled students on campus.

Making these fixes would be a powerful affirmation of ARC’s values to uphold social justice and equity to all groups. 

ARC may already go beyond ADA regulations but the college still needs to strive to look at this campus from the perspective of others. Because a fix that might be convenient to put off for one more week, could mean another week of inconvenience, exhaustion and frustration for many.