UA offers to assist sophomore

Who you gonna call? . . . the UA. Despite students' frequent complaints of an inefficient student government, the Undergraduate Assembly proved itself effective to at least one student this semester. College sophomore Lawrence Zuckerman is a wheelchair user who called on the UA for help because the University did not meet his special needs when he got to school this year. Zuckerman, who said he was frustrated waiting for the University to address his needs, went to the UA as a last resort. A couple days later, the University made major modifications to his room, Zuckerman said. But he said that all of the changes necessary for his performance at the University still have not been made. "[I thought] the UA could be a resource to help solve the problem," Zuckerman said. "The UA was very responsive to my needs." Zuckerman said he needs a specially-equipped bedroom and higher writing tables in his classrooms to accomodate his wheelchair. The modifications were not completed when he arrived at the University to move in last month, he said yesterday. Over the summer, the University Office of Facilities Planning modified one bedroom of a two-bedroom apartment on the third floor of High Rise North, said Alice Nagle, coordinator of the program for people with disabilities in the Office of Affirmative Action. A new ramp was also constructed leading into High Rise North, Nagle said. As part of the room renovation, the room door was automated, and a high desk was permanently installed to a wall. However, Nagle continued, the room the University situated was not large enough to accommodate Zuckerman's needs. Zuckerman switched bedrooms with his roommate, but then the modifications had to be switched to his new room as well, she said. Before contacting the UA, Zuckerman had also requested, and not received, an intercom system to connect his room with the lobby desk for use in case he needs assistance during the night, Zuckerman said. He was forced to wait weeks and to involve the UA before this and the other changes were installed, he said. "I knew that the UA knew the people who had to [make the changes Zuckerman needed]," said Amanda Machiela, the UA representative whom Zuckerman approached about two weeks ago. "[The University] was definitely cheating him of his rights." Machiela talked to UA Chairperson Jeffrey Lichtman, who then contacted the Office of Affirmative Action. "[There was] a lack of commitment by the University and an opportunity for the UA to step in," said Lichtman, a College senior. Nagle said that an effort was made by the University to meet his needs "as expeditiously as possible." She said that the University has ordered more classroom writing tables for Zuckerman which should be in before the end of the semester. Zuckerman is currently using three of the four desks he used last year, but Nagle said the remaining one has not yet been located by University officials. Nagle said the Office of Affirmative Action understands that three desks are not enough since Zuckerman has classes in six different rooms. Zuckerman said that, after contacting the UA, "things were quicker than I expected." "I'm not quite sure the role that the UA played," Zuckerman said. "I just know I called them up, and things were done." Zuckerman said he would call on the UA again if necessary. "I had heard from a lot of people that the UA was apathetic and didn't meet students needs," he said. "That wasn't the case in this situation."