Wheelchair-bound professor has trouble accessing classroom

Professor Darlene Eckert has had trouble getting into her classroom this term. Eckert, who teaches the course Genders and Disabilities, requires the use of a motorized wheelchair and relies on the electric door to her classroom in Shattuck Hall, room 211, to work properly.

According to Ann Mussey, chair of the department of Women’s Studies, the door has been problematic for Eckert throughout the term. And now, the door is non-operational, requiring someone to open the door for Eckert to gain access to the classroom.

A work order was placed with Facilities, but after the door did not get fixed, the department contacted several campus agencies for assistance.

Kari Smit, Women’s Studies office coordinator, said that the Disability Resource Center, Affirmative Action, and Scheduling department were contacted to advocate for the door being fixed, but they also were not able to get a response from Facilities.

Mussey was told there was a dispute about who should fix the door.

“PSU maintains that the contractor needs to fix the door, but the contractor says it is PSU’s responsibility,” Mussey said.

Howard S. Wright Contractors completed the recent renovations to Shattuck Hall. According to Dan Perlissier of Howard S. Wright, the company was unaware of the problematic door. Perlissier added that any maintenance issues with the electronic door system would be the responsibility of PSU.

PSU Facilities and Planning did not return calls from the Vanguard in regards to the door by press time. However, in an e-mail from Smit to the Vanguard, she verified that Facilities had contacted her after the Vanguard inquiry was made, and was informed the door will be fixed on Dec. 2.

Smit said that the Women’s Studies department never had the intention of making the issue be about one person. “[Eckert] should not be the face of the problem. The door should just work,” Smit said.

Smit added there have been a number of issues regarding accessibility for people with disabilities during the campus construction projects that have occurred this term.

During the construction of the walkway between Smith and Neuberger Hall, Smit said that people requiring the use of a wheelchair had trouble accessing the elevators at certain times of the day.

“There has been a consistent lack of consideration for people with disabilities,” Smit said.