By Jonathan Smith, Student Reporter
For many students, getting to class on time is always an issue.
But for students with ambulatory problems like a broken leg or a recent knee surgery, timeliness is the least of their worries.
Zach Shaner, junior Spanish and Bible major from Coeur D’Alene, Idaho, broke his leg earlier this semester.
“Just getting to class period is hard,” Shaner said.
Shaner said crossing campus on crutches can sometimes take up to 20 minutes, so he had to find other ways of getting to class.
“I usually drive to get as close as I can to the building so I don’t have to walk near as far,” Shaner said, admitting that he is still frequently late.
Freshman Lyndsey Echols, who had knee surgery earlier in the semester, said that climbing stairs to get to class was particularly difficult.
“I couldn’t go to class at all one day,” said Echols, accounting major from League City. “It was on the third floor of Chambers and I just couldn’t make it up there.”
While most buildings do have elevators and stairs, Shaner said the elevators are difficult to get to sometimes.
Shaner and Echols can avoid most staircases going to classes but face a challenge when returning to their residence halls-they both live on the second floor.
“The stairs in the dorms were a big nuisance at first, but it got better,” Echols said.
Shaner said the stairs in his residence hall have been the hardest part to deal with as he has fallen going up and down the stairs several times.
Both students said most teachers have been pretty understanding of their situations, with few exceptions.
“I thought a few teachers could have been a little more understanding,” Shaner said. “But overall, most teachers have been fairly accommodating.”
Shaner said that the landscape of the ACU campus helps his situation considerably.
“The campus here is just so small and flat – that makes it a lot easier,” he said.
Echols and Shaner both said they wish the shuttle service on campus was more available to them, agreeing that the shuttles were often difficult to find.
Shaner said he found one once and it saved him at least 15 minutes.
Shaner said that right after he broke his leg, he asked for a wheelchair from the school, but was unable to get one.
“It’s been hard,” Shaner said.
