' - VOLUMEIII, ISSUE No.4

September 26, 1985

Planning Better Building Accessibility for the. Handicapped at U.P.E.|.

U. P, E. i.

GEM went to talk to UPEI’s physical plant manager, Don Coles, about improving U.P.E.I. facilities to better accommodate the handi- capped. He informed us that major plans were already in action. The Kelley building will be the first, structure to receive major design changes. Tenders for this project were received up until last Mon- day. He estimated that work would commence one week later, (Monday, Sept. 30).

If you are wondering why KELLEY will receive total accessibility first, it is be— cause~of the necessary ser- vices that it contains, such as the Registrar’s office, the Business office and the Book— store.

The main entrance to Kelley will remain basically the same, but there will be an

-.-extra entrance to the left of “the existing. one. The fourth ,‘nginddw fron'i the left will be "r'iéplaced by a door, and people using this entrance will join others on the ground level of Kelley via a new

corridOr. The freight elevator '

‘ that is currently 'in operation ; will be converted into a pas- senger elevator. ’ I The next building to be improved upon is the Robert- " son Library building, simply because it contains the library. I the language lab, the com— ; puter center and the Audio ' Visual Department. The de- sign specifications will be ‘ drawn up simultaneously with the actual renovation work on Kelley. Duffy, Memorial, and Main are to be worked upon as a group project. The

By Michael Zinck

Inside the Student Union Office, you can hear the thumping from the recorded music on the second floor. It’s break-time, the Ronnie Hawkins band members are relaxing between sets. 'Outside the Barn by the back stairs dressed in a light Windbreaker against cool breeze, Steve Thomson,‘ Ronnie’s manager, is up- tight. He is waving his arms but saying little. Oh, he wants {0, but the words are blocked by the pent up anger he feels. You can tell by the look on his face.

Last week, the NETTED _

“He’s a legend of R0\ ‘ Roll. He came here to give these kids a taste of real

music, and where are they?”.

He pauses to catch a breath. “These supposed broad- minded students!”

Where are they is the question of the night, it’s Thursday. Ronnie Hawkins, after 37 years of the best in Rock N’Roll, is playing at the Barn — to a half-full house.

Legends don’t come cheap, but more important than the money was the chance to hear

a first—rate band. Steve’s‘

flying now, “Holly Good should be commended, just

commended for an excellent job!” He starts pacing back and forth. “We’re here be-

cause of Holly as a special

favour, and at a fraction of our normal price.” We walk around the corner to the back of the Barn where the band’s bus is parked. Steve wants to get some promo material from a big black suitcase stuffed full of Ronnie’s albums.

He gives me about a five'

page handout. There’s a drawn look on his face, tired. The disappointment starts to show again. “It just hurts to not see the place full." We

GRAPHI C/VARS ITY

head back around to the Stu- dent Union Office ~— its a Quiet walk. ‘

As we round the corner Ronnie walks out “Do I start after this one?” he asks, ‘waving his hand thumb-up towards the second floor where the band has started. Steve listened to the music for a second, “No,' the third song, then come in”. He turns back to me as Ronnie starts back inside to the Student Union Office table, IOaded with cold cuts and cold beer.

“Just tell’eni, let’em know they should’ve have been

“And Where Are TheyNow?”

exterior and first floor of Main would be renovated for accessibility, but it is not feasible to work on the rest of Main at this time. Mr. Coles explained this by saysing that ; Main would be receiving ex- tensive renovation in the near future, and the problem of accessibility for handicapped people would be solved at this future date.

Mr. Dennis Clough, Di— rector of Administration and Finance at the University, named the Maritime Pro- vmces Higher Education Commission (M.P.H.E.C.) the source of this project. He in- formed the NETTED GEM that the University is only given this funding once per year, so there is currently no definite amount allotted for next year.

In the long run, there are plans that will enable handi— capped people to access all of the University’s buildings. However, these plans reqdire a large amount of money, which the University cannot afford in a one-year time span. Thus, we can only look optimistically at this one year. '

If you have any questions, comments or beneficial ideas, you may contact the Univer- sity’s “Committee on Access- ibility”. It consists of Mr. Coles, Susan Buchanan (an Education student at UPEI), and John Hochstadt from the Council of the Disabled. 1 am sure that they would appreciate any input that you might have. You can contact Mr. Coles at local 0390.

By Don Lane

here. And ask’em, — where

were they?” Steve.

I surely will

H f, 11016