Disabled students wonder about their special facilities

Disabled Students Wonder about their Special Facilities

As students are coping with the move, disabled students have their concerns.
Email me @ Kizzie@aucegypt.edu

Cairo- Following the administration claim that the walk from one end of the campus to the other end is a convenient 10 minute walk, students especially the ones with disabilities are struggling to cope with an exhausting walk.

Rania Boraie, associate director for special events at the office of communications and marketing was quoted in the Caravan in May 2008 assuring students that the walk is just 10 minutes, so students have no excuse to be late.

Ikram Abdi, a Biology senior begs to differ. “the walk is not 10 minutes and even if you are healthy, you still find it long” said Abdi who is dropped by her driver at the main gate.

Some students don’t find the walk as long, at least depending on where they park their cars.

“my classes are all in the HUSS building, so I park my car in the parking lot behind it. I’m aware of the problems facing other students, but it’s not a critical issue for me” said Sarah Salem, a Sociology senior.

Some students find the long walk exhausting to the point of sickness.

According to Dr. Mohammed Amin, assistant head and general practitioner at the Clinic said, “yes, if you are in a cold class and then you walk outside for a while, you could easily catch a cold”.

Students walk long distances and the weather changes from one area to another, this makes many of them vulnerable to sickness.

On the other hand, Students who suffer from temporary and permanent disabilities have different concerns. Some are provided with golf-carts to help them avoid the long walk, but others complain about the lack of facilities.

“I was in a soccer match and I fell down and I broke my foot. Many professors understood and they excused me when I was late for my classes. I was never provided with a wheel chair or a golf-cart or other facilities. It was hard to walk in the beginning, but it’s better now. I did need facilities in the beginning.” Said Ayten Wahba, an undeclared freshman.

The university provides students with special needs with facilities such as special walkways. Also, every single bathroom includes a special cubicle for disabled students and teachers unlike the old campus.

This doesn’t solve all the problems for students with special needs, if they want access to special facilities, it involves a lot of extra work.

The library, the tallest building on campus is the perfect example.

“They are providing facilities to students with disabilities, but they need to go add that to their ID when they activate it. Then they are able to use the elevator”, said Amanda Click, teaching instructor librarian working at the reference desk.

If students with special needs are required to do an extra step to access much-needed facilities, they have to go through procedures they should be spared from.

For more, visit the Carvan website

http://auccaravan.wordpress.com/2008/09/29/several-students-fall-ill-doctors-think-temperature-changes-to-blame/

http://auccaravan.wordpress.com/2008/09/16/campus-move-costly-to-student-groups/

http://auccaravan.wordpress.com/2008/09/16/questions-linger-about-move/

http://www1.aucegypt.edu/students/caravan/stories/08May25/front_riham.html

Foxy AUC

It all happened on Thrusday. A friend texted me with the news. I didn't have classes on Thrusday so, I wasn't there to witness its appearance.
A fox was seen galavanting around campus. I kid you not!
I'm aware that this campus is in the middle of the desert and we should expect to see foxes "around" the area, but why would we want to see one on campus?
Rehab, where I live was like that when it first started, an incomplete piece of land filled with dangerous animals, but they contained the situation. We shouldn't wait until a student is hurt to take action. Our safety should never be put at risk.
The same friend was tormented in class a few days earlier when a mouse was running at her feet.
should we come to campus with a hunting gun or what?

And yeah, a professor was surprised by a snake in the toilet. What else should we expect?