PCSA Student Leader Says Campus in for Big Surprise by New
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The * U Student EcHt/ Volumejte/ Issue No. 4 University Of Tennessee at Chattanooga September 13,1990 PCSA Student Leader Says Campus Professor In For Big Surprise By New Law Files Civil consider the way [the facilities] are now By David W. Hamilton wheelchair accessible areas. accessible. But for the majority, no way." Rights Suit Echo Production Manager These two elevators plus the renovation "We are losing a lot of students to other of restrooms in Race-Hooper Hall totaled colleges because of accessibility." An unsuspecting storm of thundering $220,000 in improvements resulting from By Chad Hendrix and Carol Malone Says BuUer, "The only restraint is money. change will soon be shaking UTC at its very 1988 Capital Project funding received from The Student Echo We've got so many things that need to be roots, catching the college's administration the state. done and not enough resources to do it." off guard, says Jeff Howard, student leader In 1980, $146,000 in state money for UTC is currenUy requesting $431,000 in of the Physically Challenged Student capital projects literally paved the way for Dr. P.K. Geevarghese, associate state funding for 1991, specifically for capital Association. many students with disabilities. professor of sociology and anthropology, improvements of handdicapped facilities. And at the eye of the storm is the Modification of rest rooms, doorways, water filed a civil rights suit against UTC and two How do students find out about the Americans with Disability Act, a measure fountains, and parking lots, along with new faculty members on Sept. 5. facilities available to them? signed into law recently by President Bush ramps, handrails, and other improvements The suit was filed against Dr. Edward E. When students with disabilities first and designed to ensure greater accessibility opened the UTC campus to people with Cahill.headof the department of sociology contact the UTC campus, they are supposed to jobs, communication, and transportation disabilities. and anthropology, Dr. John Trimpey, to be directed to Student Affairs, says Becky for handicapped persons. Other problems still need to be examined, coordinator of humantics and American Tucker, currenUy assistant dean of students "They don't know what's fixing to hit says Howard. studies and UTC claiming that Geevarghese and director of student activities. them," says Howard. "[For the "They have improved, but there still has has been a victim of racial discrimination. "We have never failed to meet the needs administration] to say the Americans with been poor prioritizing of things they should "There is a conspiracy to put me down of the handicapped," says Tucker. A22ycar Disability Act is not going to affect the be doing," says Howard. "I've seen plans because of my nationality," Geevarghese college just says they don't know whats for the future, and entrances is one of the said. going on. This is big stuff. A lot of changes things they've got to deal with. They See Improvements p. B6 According to the petition, "Geevarghese are coming." has not been promoted to the rank of The new law's bite will be in its power of professor in spite of 22 years of service enforcement, says Howard. The bill will while younger, non-minority faculty establish standards so that public and private members with fewer contributions have institutions can be monitcrcd. been promoted." However, when asked about whether the He said that in spite of his seniority over bill would affect UTC facilities, David all but one member of his department, his Butler, Assistant Vice-Chancellor of salary has remained the lowest in the Facilities Planning and Management, says it department. shouldn't The suit states, "The head of the "That's not my interpretation of it," says department continually disparages the Butler, adding that he thought the new law plaintiff at faculty meetings, ridicules his would deal with public transportation only. suggestions andhumiliatesandembarrasses Twelve years ago, the UTC campus him." discriminated against students who were "I love this University. I love my handicapped with curbs, heavy doors, skinny students. I love my work," Geevarghese doorways, and stairways blocked said. wheelchairs from easy access to college Geevarghese said that the suit was his facilities. Buildings without elevators might last resort and that he felt he had exhausted as well have been mountains to those all other avenues. incapable of normal mobility. "I could not respect them anymore... But change has come to UTC, and too much of a devilish thing... all this for although there is still room for improvement, doing a good job," he said. over the past decade campus facilities have The suit also states, that the University evolved into a much more acceptable state, and the defendants' attitude toward minority says Butler. individuals is evidenced by their treatment "We're not in bad shape," says BuUer. of black students. "The university has made some great strides "I've never heard anyone(supejiors) say in upgrading the handicapped facilities. something nice about me", Geevarghese We've got a lot of badly needed projects said. completed." I have devoted my time and done die One of those projects was the newly best job that I can, he said. installed elevator in Race-Hooper Hall. This Geevarghese was born in India of parents gave students in wheelchairs access to the whose national origin was Indian. Financial Aid Department and other offices When asked lo make a statement about on the second floor. An elevator was also the suit, both Cahill and Trimpey declined put in Hunter Hall adding three more floors comment of classrooms and offices to the list of Physically challenged students are faced with obstacles thoughout UTC. Sean Peck/Student Echo A2 The Student Echo/September 13, 1990 Chancellor Proposes $92 Million Five Year Plan By Chad Hendrix RAP sheets and the installation of a Sports Management, Nursing, program, the report indicated. The Student Echo voice-response registration system. Accountancy and Physical Therapy. There But, as Chancellor Obear said, the The plan also calls for the may also be an Educational Specialist University has had a five year plan for On Sept 6, Chancellor Frederick Obear implementation of a minority student advanced degree program and a some time, it just takes 15 years to get presented the new $92 million "5 Year mentoring program and a multi-cultural Software/Systems Engineering Ph.D. everything on it completed. Plan" for UTC to various members of the awareness program. faculty and administration. The "5 Year Plan" hopes for the The draft itself was described as a "wish addition of 400 scholarships which will list" of programs that the Strategic also help the University in its recruitment Proposed Improvements for Planning Committee would like to see and retention goals, said Obear. approved by the state-wide UT The document list several construction UTC over the Next Five Years* administration, said Obear. and renovation projects including the The "5 Year Plan" for enrollment at construction of a 200 bed residence hall Improvements Estimated Costs UTC has set a goal of 8,900 students by and the establishment of a late night Freshman Seminar $1,589,000 1995. The plan specifically projects a 12 study area, computer lab and tutorial percent increase in undergraduate facilities. On-Line Transcripts $90,000 enrollment for Fall, 1989 from 6,595 to The Maclellan Gymnasium will be Voice-Response Registration $180,000 7,475 for fall, 1995. A 47 percent increase remodeled for instructional and Minority Mentoring Program $50,000 in graduate enrollment from 969 for Fall, recreational purposes as well as to house a 1989, to 1,425 for Fall, 1995. "wellness center". Multi-Cultural Awareness Program $100,000 The comparatively large projected Campus-wide accessibility to the Scholarships $12,391,000 increase in graduate enrollment is due to physically challenged is also a goal of the New Residence Hall $4,500,000 the establishment of new masters and plan, as well as the acquisition of Bryan post-masters degrees, said Obear. Funeral Home, behind Lockmiller Late-Night Study Area/Computer Other enrollment related figures call for Apartments, for additional parking. Lab and Tutorial Facilities $180,000 an increase of 200 residential students The University also hopes to increase Maclellan Gym Renovations $1,050,000 from 1100 to 1300. An increase in the teacher salaries to 105 percent of their enrollment of minorities students from 14 peers' average, support staff salaries to 100 Improvements for Physically to 16 percent as well as an increase in the percent of the regional average, and Challenged $127,000 black student population from 13 to 16 administration salaries to 100 percent of Additional Parking $1,500,000 percent the national average for similar positions, $2,241,000 The University also wants to increase the report said. Salary Increases the graduation rate of currently enrolled Several new academic programs are undergraduate students by five percent over being considered for implementation in the •Note: The above improvements are just a segment of the proposals the next five years. Some of the programs University under the "5 Year Plan". The in the draft of the "5 year plan." designed to help meet this goal are the -new undergraduate programs may include Freshman Seminar, on-line transcripts and Occupational Therapy, Paralegal Studies, WELCOME BACK Desktop Resume STUDENTS! Publishing Service We are looking for energetic employees for - by the hour - packages available the positions of servers, hostess, and J.hn Imllk cashiers to help in our new restaurant. J.hn Smll* t\ : We Offer: =rrrr=_ 1 ===-—.rd - 1 • Top Wages You can rent tune on our For high quality resumes, • Flexible Hours Macintosh* & LaserWriter' matching cover sheets and system.