It’s amazing how something as simple as box jumps can change your life for the next month. At baseball practice, we have a warm-up circuit that includes box jumps. I was demonstrating how to do the circuit and was leading with my left leg sideways to the box. I got on top of the first box fine, it was the second box that caused me trouble.
As I leapt and landed on the box, I felt my leg bend inward toward my other. I heard a loud and distinct “pop” and promptly got off of the box with immense pain in my knee. At that moment, I knew something wasn’t right.
Blackburn isn’t known to be the most accessible of campuses for those with a physical impairment. With only one main building with an elevator, getting to classes can be difficult. The campus isn’t very large, but getting from one side of campus to the other can take some time; that’s even without having to deal with crutches.
How can Blackburn become more accessible?
Well one solution would be for Security or Residence Life to get a golf cart and have a list of approved students who would be the only one’s allowed to be passengers. This proposal would involve sort-of an on-call system so that a student in need can be taken to class or around the campus. This would not only benefit the student in need but also provide an opportunity for students to gain additional hours. “I would be happy to help those in need get to class,” said freshman security worker Abby Frerichs.
Another way that Blackburn could become more accessible would be to have automatic doors on the buildings. It would be easier to be able to step up and hit a button on the doors especially on the doors that have a ramp leading up to them. This would include Hudson and the Lumpkin Learning Commons. I would’ve thought that they would have included these on Jaenke, but they did not.
It’s not as if the Blackburn community isn’t willing to help either. Many people on campus are willing to open and hold doors, help get food at the dining hall and Snack Bar and check in and ask for updates when seeing someone on campus who needs help. Thank you for everything you all do.