RUN Party pushes handicapped-accessible greek houses

As part of their campaign platform, the RUN Party hopes to push University of Nebraska-Lincoln fraternities and sororities to become more handicapped accessible.

Laine Norton, a senior news-editorial major and RUN Party candidate for external vice-president said when she spent time with a friend who used a wheelchair, the two were restricted as to where they could go.

Norton's sorority, Chi Omega, does not have access for people with mobility problems and neither do the majority of the other fraternities and sororities on campus.

"We want to make campus accessible to everyone," Norton said.

Norton said that steps would be taken to get the plan in motion, including meetings with student organizations and the Services for Students with Disabilities office. Although it will take time and money to make the campus more handicapped accessible, Norton said she hoped it wouldn't lead to an increase in student fees.

"In the future, we'll look for grants and go to Lincoln and nationwide organizations for help with funding," Norton said.

Christy Horn, Americans with Disabilities Act compliance officer for UNL, said the current state of disability access on campus is adequate. Horn said that all City Campus buildings have access for people with mobility problems, and the two buildings on East Campus without access are scheduled for demolition.

UNL has been working with the state to get buildings even more accessible than they already are, including renovating restrooms to better conform to standards for students and faculty members with limited mobility, Horn said.

Horn said she has not heard complaints from students or faculty members on the state of access for those who are mobility impaired.

Veva Cheney, director of Services for Students with Disabilities, said 15 UNL students with mobility impairment are registered with the program.

Horn said the cost of upgrading the residences would vary from building to building.

Unfortunately, the university does not have a say on disability access within sororities and fraternities, Horn said, as they are private residences.

But the Association of Students of the University of Nebraska could motivate greek houses to change, she said.

"They always have political pressure," Horn said. "The student government could advocate change."