Prospector from El Paso, Texas • Page 13

Commentary By Jeff Barton Give him truck load of ready-mix Amy Webb negotiates a curb with a helping hand from another wheelchair-bound student off camera. There is a simple, cheap solution to this problem. Frustration Monday I followed a student in a wheelchair across the campus. For those of you who have never made the trip, I suggest you read my account of it. The student, well call him John (because that's not his name) first caught my eye in front of Hudspeth Hall on the west side of the campus.

He was moving right along while along with about eight other cars full of students, waited at the entrance while the policeman checked parking stickers. I thought, "Here I sit in climate-controlled comfort, having only to twitch my right foot to move easily uphill, while John has to struggle even on the level. I wonder how hell manage the curb?" There is no ramp for the curb on the east side of the street. He made it, but only by crabbing the wheelchair up to the curb, leaning back and pushing hard to make the climb. Then he wheeled around and was off up the walk.

I parked and crossed the street to follow him. It wasn't easy, I noted. The time was 7:51 a.m. The parking spaces along the street in front of Cotton Memorial allow the bumpers and fenders of cars to overhang the walk's curb. This leaves little room for persons to walk, and two abreast is about as much as you can manage.

John faced an additional problem. The walk was crowded, even at this hour, so he had to weave in and out, back and forth, just to get down the walk. He reached the library's south ramp at 7:55. I had to stop twice to stay behind him. John put some books in the outside book drop (probably so he wouldn't have to fight the doors, then turned around and headed back to the ramp.

It then I noticed the gloves. John wore thick leather gloves, the kind you wear when you work hard with your hands. It was cold, to be sure, but the gloves were to prevent blisters, not frostbite. They were polished where the wheelchair rails rubbed them. He smiled at me as we passed.

I said, "Good morning," and faked my best private-eye's shadowing nonchalance, so he won't get onto me. He didn't speak-he was too busy blowing clouds of steam as his breath hit the frosty air. I turned east, up the steps to the hedges, and more or less paralleled him as he went down the walk toward the Union. I found myself feeling better as John made good time down the walk-he was coasting downhill. He made the Hawthorne intersection at exactly 7:59.

He wasn't puffing anymore, but, once again, he a curb to reckon with. This time his agility in gettinj down, then up and over'the next one didn't surprise me, But I began to realize what a struggle it was for him just to get around. I remembered once running three miles in 21 minutes as a Marine, but there was no pride in the recollection, only respect for John. The next 100 yards weren't so easy. John wheeled his "legs" up the hill on the sough side of the Union, and around to the east side.

There, I finally realized, he only had to negotiate the doors and, once again, he would find the elevator. He had to wait for several students to go through the doors. Did you ever notice how many doors at this University are marked "Please use other I'm sure it doesn't compute for students like John. One of the students was kind enough to hold the door open for him, and John responded with a smile. Then we went to the elevator and upstairs to the cafeteria.

He entered the cafeteria at 8:06, fully 15 minutes after I left my car. I left him then, and crossed to the Union West to write this. My point is not to encourage the institution of an Olympic competition for wheelchair patients, although John would probably do well if there were one. Nor am I out to tell you students like John need more wheelchair ramps, or perhaps an outside elevator or escalator, although they do. And I do not-pity John, nor do I attempt to make you pity him, although I'm sure most of us do anyway.

The point is that I respect John, and others like him, for the way they put up with us and our system-a system that was made for healthy persons (Normal, if you will) -in spite of our procrastinatio, in spite of our synthetic politeness, and in spite of our infrequent helping hands at the door. John doesn't merely put up with or adapt to our system. He thrives in it. He beats it. He succeeds in it.

He lives in it and loves every minute of it. But does he need help, help that doesn't seem forthcoming? I think the reason is that no one has asked him about it. Sure, there has been research, but has anyone asked him where he'd like to have the ramps installed? Give him a truck full of ready-mix and some two-by-fours and 111 bet you'd see ramps spring up everywhere overnight. I just look out my window and there's John, leaving the Union. He'd met friends, or classmates, inside and they are on their way to the Education Building now.

One of them is helping him down the steps at the north end of the Plaza. Letters The Student Opportunities for Service Program gives students a chance to provide a meaningful contribution to the community. It provides students the opportunity to gain valuable experience in a real world setting while he is helping while he is helping children get a better education. Not everyone has the same resources or opportunities to an equal education. There are many children who need the extra care and individual attention needed to succeed in the education system today.

That care and attention could and should be provided by competent and interested college students. The S.O-S- Program can place interested students to tutor in the El Paso Public Schools; elementary, junior highs, and high schools. The program can also place students in day care centers and other community service and charitable institutions. The student volunteer chooses the location and the number of hours wishes to tutor a week. Although there is no monetary reward, we feel that a meaningful education experience is incentive enough for the interested caring student.

Join the S.O.S. Program and participate in a truly rewarding educational experience. further information call 747-5835 or contact the S.O.S. Office Union East Room 301H. Thank you for your efforts: Norma Oronoz, Coordinator Policy you MEED WAT KlHD OF LEAVE? THEir Please double space your letters.

If at all possible, type them. (You may use our typewriter if you like.) If not, please print. We don't want profanity. Limit your comments to two typewritten, double-spaced, 8V4 by 11 pages. Limit your comments to two typewritten, double-spaced, by 1.1 inch pages.

All letters must be signed. No exceptions. From time to time we will select letters for inclusion in our Feedback column. The letters will be printed unedited, along with comments from quoted sources or targets of the letter. We reserve the right to decide which letters will be used in this manner, as well as which persons will be quoted as sources.

We have had good response to Feedback columns and will continue them. The Prospector Editor Jeff Barton Managing Editor Alice Varela News Editor Beth Ford Assistant Editor Mike Brand Sports Editor David Haines Staff Writer Gillham Chief Photographer Chad Puerling Staff Photographers Greg leu teL George Guerra, Annando Maese Student Advertising Manager Juan Erives Circulation Manager Jim Gachagua Member of the associaieo coueciaie pRessi EP The Prospector, student newspaper of the University of Texas at El Paso, is published each Tuesday and Friday September through May by the Student Publications Board, 204 W. Union, UT El Paso, El Paso, Texas 79968. Second class postage paid at El Paso, Texas, 79968. Opinions expressed in The Prospector are those of the writer and are not necessarily those of the University or the student body.

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