Personal Response from Matt "Fredo" Frendewey - Vice President of CMU CR's
I understand that the hall directors of the two halls were trying to get a point across but they went to far. First they didn't prove the point correctly.
Disabled individuals can still use laundry machines, if they cannot use the machines inside those halls than maybe the hall directors should work on making them accessible by raising money to purchase front loaders with coin deposits on the sides, not locking the door. Why did they cover the drinking fountains, I have not ventured into the Saxe or Herrig in a while, but to my knowledge they are all wheelchair accessible.
Since the residence hall directors went about this the wrong way instead of proving a point they upset the residents in the halls, residents I might add that were told when looking into living in the dorms or off campus that the dorms all had drinking fountains, washer and dryer in the same building (and same floor for most). They were told that each floor would have a residence assistant who would "help" them and "assist" them, keep order on the floor and make sure things ran smoothly. To my knowledge the RA's did just the opposite by implementing this program. They did not assist, help, or keep order, instead they caused problems, anger and frustration. In my opinion they breeched the contract with all the residents by purposely taking away previously advertised products. If my landlord came into my apartment and locked the closet to my washer and dryer, blocked the way to my sink, kitchen, or stairway into my apartment, all of which is not wheelchair accessible. You better believe I am going to be upset, I signed a contract and PAY to live in an apartment with a washer and dryer, with a sink, with a kitchen, and with stairs to my second floor apartment, and those who live in the dorms signed and contract and paid for exactly what they SHOULD be receiving.
Lastly, live in a privately owned apartment unlike the dorms. The dorms are public building, paid for and built by public funding. The residence hall directors are not the landlords, and do not own the buildings. I nor my family (and many others around the state) want our hard earned tax dollars going toward dormitories that implement such ridiculous programs.
- Matthew "Fredo" Frendewey
Vice President CMU College Republicans
[email protected]