Student Research Bringing Attention to Campus Accessibility

The path leading to the only entrance to the Coates Library.
Click here to view 360 degree photos (photos by Nick Smetzer).

By Nick Smetzer

As summer approaches, plans are being made to renovate portions of Trinity's upper and lower campus. While standard updates to older buildings may be welcome, students, faculty and staff at Trinity have been making a particular effort to improve campus accessibility.

Graduating senior Cathy Terrace, majoring anthropology, has spent her last year at Trinity studying the campus’ history with accessibility, and has noted several areas that pose particular challenges to students.

“Students with mobility impairments who can’t take stairs, for example, are denied easy access to a lot of areas on campus,” said Terrace. An example is the Storch building. "You have to physically leave the building if you leave either half of the basement floor of Storch.”

Cathy Terrace: Calling for A More Accessible Campus Design

By Nick Smetzer

Trinity’s brick-red campus, though may be easy on the eyes, is not very easy on the legs.

Few know this as well as senior anthropology major Cathy Terrace, who, for the last year, has been conducting research on the history of Trinity’s architecture, as well as issues of accessibility.