Cheri Fakes’ electric scooter doesn’t provide the same amount of security as a car would when she travels around campus on dark Evanston evenings.
“Currently the Escort Service does not have any (wheelchair) accessible vehicles,” said Fakes, a Communication sophomore and president of Wheels for Change, Northwestern’s advocacy group for people with disabilities.
Given the recent spate of attacks on students on and near campus, Fakes said she would like to make use of the service and not having the option decreases her ability to go out.
“First of all, just being female, I don’t feel comfortable going out after dark,” she said. “And I feel more vulnerable in the scooter, because it can only go so fast — I can’t run.”
The fact that some students can’t use the escort service is just one example of accessibility problems that linger at colleges nationwide.
Mary Desler, associate vice president for student affairs and chairwoman of NU’s access committee, said Escort Service accessibility is included in the committee’s priorities. The committee of administrators, staff and students set goals last spring, including making greek houses and dining halls wheelchair accessible.
“The university has been more than willing to work with us in the past,” Fakes said. “Given what we’ve been able to accomplish, I’m sure they will be able to help us.”
This fall the Boston College Disabilities Council tackled similar issues when it hosted a panel discussion. Alex Gray, a blind Boston College sophomore, said students with disabilities took the stage and to answer questions.