UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Friday, September 25, 1992
5
Buildings re-evaluated
Architecture students take look at campus accessibility for disabled
By J.R. Clairborne Kansan staff writer
University of Kansas architecture students may have the chance to change the face of the campus.
New regulations from the American Disabilities Act of 1900 have caused the University to re-evaluate campus facilities and determine their degree of access for the physically disabled, said Gaylord Richardson, professor of architecture.
Performing this evaluation will be the second-year studio students of Tony Chapman's Design I class. Chapman is an instructor in architecture and urban design.
The project, entitled "Entering a Building," consists of a 60-page form that evaluates various campus facilities' accommodations for the physically disabled, including entryways, parking and interior features.
The students also are designing aesthetic changes for the buildings surveyed that will include the new entrances without detracting from the original design and balance of the
structure, Chapman said.
He said the project was an exercise in understanding sidewalks and design philosophy of entries, particularly the congested area between Fraser Hall and Watson Library. The project is teaching his students the importance of looking at accesses for everyone as a design issue rather than a tack-on, or additional task of design.
"What I'm trying to teach my students is that from now on, when they design a building, everyone can come in the front door."
"When we first started the project, some of the students thought the exercise would account only for accessibility for those using wheelchairs," he said. "Now, all of a sudden, they have to deal with a person who is mobile but can't see."
The buildings being surveyed are Carruth-O'Leary, Dyche, Fraser, Malott, Murphy and Strong halls and Watson Library.
Although the design changes are considered part of the class exercise, Chapman said he viewed the design aspect as a possible starting point for
a professional company.
Bob Turvey, who heads the Architecture Barriers Committee said that even though the ADA was passed in 1990, it had a timetable established for public institutions to implement appropriate changes. Parts of the survey have already been completed, including surveys on parking and restrooms. More than 4,000 bits of information were collected on the restroom survey alone, he said.
Some of the changes also include having to change for the needs of the elderly degenerative disease.
"The law tells us in this area that the University has to have a transitional plan — a plan of action to remove physical barriers of accessibility," he said.
Chad Ingram, Lawrence sophomore, said that he saw the project as a challenge and that the students had free reign over their designs because there were no money restrictions.
One of the more challenging aspects was to unify the architecture on campus and make some connection between the present design of an existing building and the addition of an access, Ingram said. This was a problem with some of the older buildings which could require total reconstruction of certain areas, he said.
Officials urge flu vaccination
By Joe Harder
Kansan staff writer
While the optimal time to be vaccinated for influenza, or flu, is mid-October to mid-November, federal health officials recommend that members of high-risk groups be vaccinated as soon as they get the chance.
Those with high risk for complications of flu, such as pneumonia, include anyone who has asthma, diabetes or sickle-cell anemia, said Louisa Chapman, a medical epidemiologist in the division of viral diseases at the Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control.
Also at risk are people older than 65, residents of nursing homes and other chronic-care facilities and people 18 or younger who take aspirin to fight viral infections, she said.
"Rather than risk waiting until the ideal time for the vaccination and not getting it at all, you should go ahead while you have the chance," Chapman said.
Anyone not in one of those groups who wants the vaccination is not discouraged, said Nancy Cox, chief of the influenza department at CDC.
"We suggest vaccination for any person who wishes to reduce his or her chances of acquiring influenza infection," she said. "And I recommend that students who reside in institutional settings be vaccinated in order to minimize disruptions in their schedule."
But those who get vaccinated early run the risk of not being covered for the entire flu season, said Charles Yockey, chief of staff at Watkins Memorial Health Center.
"If you get it in September, there's a chance it can run out by March," he said. "There's no way we're going to see fu in October."
The season's high runs from January through the beginning of March, Chapman said.
Chapman said younger and healthier people had a longer immunization period than older people. But vaccination each year is needed to main-tain protection.
Determining how long the vaccine lasts is complicated by the fact that different strains of the virus are present each year.
"The flu virus is one that keeps on mutating, so that's why they make up the vaccine every year," said Dennis Dahl, a physician at Watkins.
"There's probably some lasting immunity from the vaccine, but it's mainly the mutants of the virus that give us trouble," he said. "It could be a different mutation next year."
It generally takes about two weeks to get full protection after vaccination, Chapman said.
The vaccine is not necessarily a 100- percent preventive, said Elaine Houston, immunization charge nurse at the Douglas County Health Department.
"But usually if a person is vaccinated, and they do get the flu, it won't be as bad," she said.
728 Massachusetts • 842-5199
Parties! Parties!
Parties!
Your Party Headquarters Over 500 rental costumes, plus accessories!
The best prices in town for your Theme Party!
Bark's Vintage Rose
927.Musson. 841-2451
Mon.Sat.11-5 Thu.11:00-8
SUNFLOWER
for DOS or Windows
804 Massachusetts 843-5000
And you thought RAZOR BLADES were just for shaving?
Intelligence & Good Looks WordPerfect 5.1
Powerful word processor with:
- Speller/Thesaurus
- Mail Merge
- Printing
ConnectingPoint COMPUTER CENTER
813 MASS • DOWNTOWN LAWRENCE • 843-7584
WHY THE COW?
downtown
9241/2
massachusetts
842-3344
lawrence's newest new record store
JUNIOR'S FARM
compact discs & cassettes &c.
WHY THE HELL NOT!
One out of every six men is a survivor of child sexual abuse.
If you are one, you don't have to keep the secret any longer.
Listen to Men Who've Already Been There.
"I experienced a lot of anxiety sharing this topic with an all male group, but it was very useful. It helped to see how other men had problems like I had."
"I think any man who was sexually abused as a kid should do this group."
"Being able to be open with men has lessened the fear of it all. It really helped to know other men experienced some of the same feelings and anxieties and had similar experiences as I had."
"Telling our stories helped us begin healing our pasts, and also started clearing a path for our futures."
"This group is an opportunity to open up with other men about emotions, sex, work, family and dreams. Do it."
"If you were sexually abused, this group is something you need to go through as part of the healing."
Take the First Step to Healing Your Past. Join Our Men's Group Today. Call 843-9192
Call 843-9192.
Community Mental Health Center, Inc.
336 Missouri Suite 202 Lawrence, Kansas 66044