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.”

City Vista Set to House Trinity Students in the Fall

City Vista apartments sit right across the Trinity campus

By Elizabeth McEnrue & Abigail Tisdale

On the morning of January 18, Taylor Mobley ‘16, a current tenant of City Vista apartments, saw a post from Trinity’s Facebook page about its recent purchase of the complex she calls home.

“I saw the picture and even seeing the picture I said, there has to be another City Vista.They would not do this to me," said Mobley. "So I click on the link, and lo and behold, they bought my apartment complex!"

On that same morning, Trinity University students received an email from President Danny Anderson regarding the acquisition.

Bell Center Undergoes Multimillion Dollar Renovation

By Johnna Guillerman

In recent weeks, students walking up to the Bell Center have noticed many construction vehicles and custom fencing at the facility. Inside, the construction becomes even more apparent as entire sections of floors are closed, and workout centers are relocated to cramped classrooms.

The William H. Bell Athletic Center is undergoing a major renovation starting in December 2016, and will last till February 2018. The athletic department hopes to provide students with a “state of the art” athletic facility.

What many people don’t know is that planning for this renovation actually started more than 10 years ago. “Our architect, Marmon Mok, did the initial feasibility study back in 2007,” said Seth Asbury, the associate director of Athletics for Facilities and Event Management, who has worked with Trinity for 11 years.

Trinity Master Plan Hosts Forum for Campus Improvement

By Katie Groke

Students Chris Soto and Marcella Reyes look at
alternative plans for the Trinity Campus
Photo by Katie Groke

Students, faculty, and staff gathered Tuesday to discuss possible improvements to the Trinity University campus, including parking, dorm renovation and additional entrance to campus, at public forums hosted by the Trinity University Facilities Master Plan Committee.

Suggested campus improvements include replacing parking lots on lower campus with an additional intramural field and grass areas for recreation. To compensate for the loss of parking, a parking structure outside the Bell Athletic Center is suggested. This would increase easily accessible parking for both student residents and visitors during sporting events.

People at the meeting also discussed possible improvements to upperclassman dorms, such as renovating three of the upperclassman dorms into single room styles, similar to the improvement done to the North Hall during last summer. They also suggested a possible apartment building for seniors and juniors to improve privacy.