EDITORIAL: Second-class high rise elevators

U. officials shouldn't wait for the Bissison Hier report before renovating High Rise North elevators. Students spend too much time in the lobby and other floors of High Rise North waiting for the elevators to arrive. And usually all four elevators appear at once, causing another large crowd to congregate by the elevators. Two years ago, the University began renovating the elevators in the high rises, beginning with two in High Rise South. Originally, two elevators in each high rise were scheduled to be renovated over summer 1996, with the remainder of the elevators to follow the next summer. This project was a direct result of proposals made by the Undergraduate Assembly in 1994. But with the changes in the office of Residential Living and the yet-to-be-released Biddision Hier residence report, the project was put on hold indefinitely. Unfortunately, the project was suspended right before High Rise North was to get renovated elevators. And now that the Biddision Hier report is not expected until the end of the semester, it is unknown if the High Rise North elevators will ever be renovated. The old elevators are not in the best condition.The touch-sensitive buttons don't light up unless a student pushes them several times. The numbers for some floors have been rubbed off over time. Sometimes the elevators stop on extra floors. Sometimes, they don't stop at all. Since the high rises are not going to be demolished as of yet, it wouldn't hurt if administrators finished the elevator renovation project that students asked for. Clearly, High Rise North residents would be much happier if they could get to their apartments in less than 10 minutes from the time they walk into the building.